Since 1993, Bob Stack's main research has been with plant breeders trying to develop wheat varieties resistant to FHB.  

"Working full-time on Fusarium graminearum is kind of a phytopathological homecoming" says Stack.  "I worked with this critter as a pathogen of carnations 25 years ago and now I'm back at it again."  (Stack authored a series of five papers on Fusarium stem rot of carnation between 1976 and 1986.)

"Some of my colleagues who have switched over to FHB from systems like rusts complain about how complex FHB resistance is. They don't know what a really tough-to-work-on disease system is.  For 15 years I worked on common root rot of wheat and barley (caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana). Testing FHB is a big improvement over that!."