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Evaluation of Maize Inbred Lines for Resistance to Aspergillus and Fusarium Ear Rot and Mycotoxin Accumulation
Author(s) -
Henry W. Brien,
Williams W. Paul,
Windham Gary L.,
Hawkins Leigh K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2009.0004
Subject(s) - fumonisin , mycotoxin , aflatoxin , aspergillus flavus , fusarium , biology , inbred strain , inoculation , fumonisin b1 , agronomy , aspergillus , horticulture , veterinary medicine , botany , food science , genetics , medicine , gene
Mycotoxin contamination in corn ( Zea mays L.) grain is a worldwide threat to safety of both human food and animal feed. A select group of inbred corn lines was evaluated in field trials for ear rot caused by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides and mycotoxin accumulation in grain. Our goal was to identify lines resistant to both fungi. In separate tests, 20 inbred lines were inoculated with either A. flavus or F. verticillioides After harvest, ears were rated for rot and evaluated for levels of aflatoxin or fumonisin contamination. Inbred line Mp717 exhibited low grain aflatoxin contamination and it also had the lowest levels of fumonisin. Inbred line Mp317 has been shown previously to have low levels of F. verticillioides kernel infection and fumonisin contamination. Mp317 also had low levels of aflatoxin contamination in this study. Area of the ear rotted by F. verticillioides and A. flavus was significantly correlated to toxin production for both fumonisin ( P = 0.0002; r = 0.74) and aflatoxin ( P = 0.004; r = 0.61), indicating that inbreds exhibiting aflatoxin resistance may also be good sources of fumonisin resistance. Our method of quantifying ear rot may also be used to rapidly screen lines for A. flavus resistance and subsequent aflatoxin accumulation in preliminary evaluations.