BACKGROUND: Fusarium species cause Fusarium head blight (FHB) and other 
important diseases of cereals. The causal agents produce trichothecene 
mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). The dicotyledonous model species 
Arabidopsis thaliana has been used to study Fusarium-host interactions but it is 
not ideal for model-to-crop translation. Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) has been 
proposed as a new monocotyledonous model species for functional genomic studies 
in grass species. This study aims to assess the interaction between the most 
prevalent FHB-causing Fusarium species and Bd in order to develop and exploit Bd 
as a genetic model for FHB and other Fusarium diseases of wheat.
RESULTS: The ability of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum to infect a 
range of Bd tissues was examined in various bioassays which showed that both 
species can infect all Bd tissues examined, including intact foliar tissues. DON 
accumulated in infected spike tissues at levels similar to those of infected 
wheat spikes. Histological studies revealed details of infection, colonisation 
and host response and indicate that hair cells are important sites of infection. 
Susceptibility to Fusarium and DON was assessed in two Bd ecotypes and revealed 
variation in resistance between ecotypes.
CONCLUSIONS: Bd exhibits characteristics of susceptibility highly similar to 
those of wheat, including susceptibility to spread of disease in the spikelets. 
Bd is the first reported plant species to allow successful infection on intact 
foliar tissues by FHB-causing Fusarium species. DON appears to function as a 
virulence factor in Bd as it does in wheat. Bd is proposed as a valuable model 
for undertaking studies of Fusarium head blight and other Fusarium diseases of 
wheat.