CYP51A1 and infection: The bioassays used in these two CYP51 gene silencing studies were primarily based on pathosystems involving either model host plant species (i.e. Arabidopsis) or tissues that do not represent natural F. graminearum floral infections (i.e. detached leaves).33, 36 Nonetheless, the reduction of F. graminearum infection achieved through the silencing of CYP51 did provide novel mechanistic insights, while demonstrating that both the HIGS and SIGS can be used to silence F. graminearum genes which influence the outcome of infection.