ARS | Publication request: Development of maize host resistance to aflatoxigenic fungi

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: October 24, 2012
Publication Date: January 23, 2013
Citation: Brown, R.L., Bhatnagar, D., Cleveland, T.E., Chen, Z.-Y., Menkir, A. 2013. Development of maize host resistance to aflatoxigenic fungi. In: Prof. Mehdi Razzaghi-Abyaneh (Ed.). Aflatoxins - Recent Advances and Future Prospects. ISBN: 978-953-51-0904-4. InTech, Available: http://www.intechopen.com/books/aflatoxins-recent-advances-and-future-prospects/development-of-maize-host-resistance-to-aflatoxigenic-fungi.

Technical Abstract: The aims of this chapter are to review the various aspects/components that are involved in developing aflatoxin-resistant maize germplasm that can lead to breeding commercial resistant lines available to growers. The beginning of the chapter reviewed the initial discoveries of resistant maize lines. Several other types of investigations are being used to uncover the mechanisms involved in aflatoxin-resistance. These include molecular genetic studies of resistant lines, and various studies of kernel characteristics as they relate to resistance. Kernel pericarp wax was shown to possess antifungal components in the pericarp wax of at least one resistant genotype. Constitutive resistance was shown to be an important factor differentiating resistant from susceptible maize lines, and numerous constitutive resistance-associated proteins (RAPs) were identified using comparative proteomics, and some were further characterized. Proteomic studies were also performed on rachis and silk tissues and microarray analysis highlighted and confirmed kernel genes/proteins involved in resistance. While genetically closely-related lines haven’t always been available, their development through an international resistance breeding program enhances proteomic and transcriptomic investigations. New resistant lines continue to be generated through breeding. Hopefully, markers will be identified using data from the above studies to facilitate transfer of resistance to commercial lines.