ARS | Publication request: Identification of Maize Breeding Markers through Investigations of Proteins Associated with Aflatoxin-Resistance

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Symposium Series
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: April 24, 2009
Publication Date: December 20, 2009
Citation: Brown, R.L., Chen, Z.-Y., Cleveland, T.E., Menkir, A., Fakhoury, A. 2009. Identification of Maize Breeding Markers through Investigations of Proteins Associated with Aflatoxin-Resistance. In Appell, M., Kendra, D.F., Trucksess, M.W. (ed.). Mycotoxin Prevention and Control in Agriculture, ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 1031. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. pp 157-165.

Technical Abstract: The goal of a collaborative research project between International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria and ARS-Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) in New Orleans is to develop maize inbred lines with resistance against aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus flavus. A second goal is to identify gene markers in these lines to facilitate their use in U.S. breeding and African national programs. To accomplish this, comparative proteomics of near-isogenic lines varying in aflatoxin accumulation is being employed to identify kernel proteins associated with resistance (RAPs). A number of RAPs have been identified and several further characterized through physiological and biochemical investigations conducted to determine a potential role in resistance and, therefore, fitness as breeding markers. Three RAPs, a trypsin inhibitor, pathogenesis-related protein and glyoxalase I, are being investigated as well, using RNAi gene silencing and plant transformation. Results of proteome and characterization studies are discussed.