show Abstracthide AbstractIn this study, we used dual RNA-sequencing to profile FHB-resistant AC Emerson, FHB-moderately AC Morley, and FHB-susceptible CDC Falcon winter wheat cultivars prior to and in response to Fusarium graminearum at 7 days post inoculation. Differential expression analyses revealed distinct defense responses between resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars including increased mechanical defense through lignin biosynthesis and increased deoxynivalenol (DON) detoxification through UDP-glycosyltransferase activity in resistant cultivars. Further, differential expression analysis in F. graminearum challenging these distinct cultivars revealed changes genes involved in trichothecene mycotoxin biosynthesis. Overall design: FHB-resistant AC Emerson, FHB-moderately resistant AC Morley and FHB-susceptible CDC Falcon spikelets at 0 and 7 days post inoculation with Fusarium graminearum