Project Number: 6435-42000-021-10
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Mar 01, 2010
End Date: Feb 28, 2015

Objective:
To identify and characterize novel endogenous sources of resistance to ear rot and aflatoxin accumulation in corn.

Approach:
The focus of this research will be on a subset of the proteins that have been identified in proteomic screening conducted at the USDA/ARS/SRRC lab, as putatively involved in aflatoxin accumulation and/or ear rot resistance. Identified proteins will be further characterized and the corresponding genes will be isolated and cloned. Proteins will be expressed in a suitable in vitro system and their possible physiological functions will be investigated. Knowledge of A. flavus functional genomics techniques will be used to identify/test proteins for target-specific interruption of aflatoxin biosynthesis. The information obtained through the above studies will be used to explore the potential of the identified genes to serve as markers in marker-assisted breeding programs.