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Title: IDENTIFICATION OF QTL RESPONSIBLE FOR RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM EAR ROT AND FUMONISIN CONTAMINATION IN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS)

Author
item ROBERTSON, LEILANI - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item JINES, MICHAEL - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item WHITE, DONALD - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
item PAYNE, GARY - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item Holland, Jim - Jim

Submitted to: Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2005
Publication Date: 3/10/2005
Citation: Robertson, L., Jines, M., White, D., Payne, G., Holland, J.B. 2005. Identification of qtl responsible for resistance to fusarium ear rot and fumonisin contamination in maize (zea mays)[abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference.

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum are fungal pathogens of maize that cause ear rot and contaminate the grain with fumonisins, a family of mycotoxins that adversely affect animal and human health. Maize inbred lines GE440 and NC300 were identified in preliminary studies as potential sources for resistance to fumonisin contamination and Fusarium ear and kernel rot. We use these lines to develop populations segregating for resistance to ear rot and fumonisin contamination. The populations were evaluated in multiple environments for resistance. The populations were also fingerprinted using DNA markers. This permitted identification of those chromosomal regions that were associated with resistance in both populations.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum are fungal pathogens of maize that cause ear rot and contaminate the grain with fumonisins, a family of mycotoxins that adversely affect animal and human health. Maize inbred lines GE440 and NC300 were identified in preliminary studies as potential sources for resistance to fumonisin contamination and Fusarium ear and kernel rot. Two mapping populations, GE440 × FR1064 and NC300 × B104, were used to identify loci associated with ear rot and fumonisin contamination resistance. Our research is focused on answering two key questions: (1) Do some QTL for ear rot resistance also confer resistance to fumonisin contamination?, and (2) Are QTL for these traits consistent across populations? In 2002, the GE440 × FR1064 population was grown at Mt. Olive, NC and Haubstadt, IL, and the NC300 × B104 population was grown at Clayton, NC. In 2003, both the GE440 × FR1064 population and the NC300 × B104 population were grown at Plymouth, NC and Clayton, NC. Populations were replicated twice both years at all locations. Primary ears were inoculatied with a mixture of three isolates each of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. Inoculated ears were rated for the percentage of kernels rotted. The grain was then ground, bulked by plot, and evaluated for fumonisin concentration using ELISA. SSR markers were used to fingerprint both populations. The genetic map was constructed with Mapmaker/Exp version 3.0. QTL analysis was performed using SAS and Windows QTL Cartographer version