Abstract
The roles of signaling pathway genes related to the aflatoxin reduction trait in maize were studied for the improvement of maize resistance to the fungal pathogen Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). In this study, 55 maize genes in plant–pathogen interaction signaling pathways were investigated among 12 maize near-isogenic lines (NILs) that carry maize quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with aflatoxin reduction. These maize NILs were developed from maize inbred lines Mp313E (resistant donor parent) and Va35 (susceptible recurrent parent). The quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) technique was used to study the gene expression patterns. Seven calcium-dependent protein kinases and one respiratory burst oxidase displayed significant differential expression levels among the maize QTL-NILs. In addition, the gene expression profiles of WRKY transcription factors were also examined. Maize WRKY 52, WRKY 71, and WRKY83 genes displayed significantly differential expression levels among the QTL-NILs. The elucidation of differentially expressed signaling pathway genes involving maize resistance to A. flavus can provide insights into maize disease resistance and enhance maize molecular breeding.
Highlights
IntroductionA. flavus is of particular interest because it is involved with the production of the carcinogenic aflatoxins
Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) is a serious pathogen to developing maize ears
Greater effects in aflatoxin reduction were observed from quantitative trait loci (QTL)-near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying multiple QTLs in each line than those carrying a single QTL in each line
Summary
A. flavus is of particular interest because it is involved with the production of the carcinogenic aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of A. flavus and the contamination they cause greatly affects the quality and safety of maize products. Researchers have proposed models estimating monetary losses in the range of $52.1 million to $1.68 billion dollars annually related to aflatoxin contamination of maize grain (Diener et al, 1987; Mitchell et al, 2016). These findings emphasized the need for intervention to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize production
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