Project Number: 3625-21000-050-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 28, 2003
End Date: Apr 30, 2008

Objective:
Develop maize varieties with host plant resistance (HPR) against European Corn Borer (ECB), and Western Corn Rootworm (WCR) with improved resistance against Fusarium and fumonisin mycotoxin. This is part of an integrated pest management system utilizing GEM exotic germplasm as a source of new alleles.

Approach:
GEM data sets that were previously screened for WCR and ECB were used as the initial starting sources of germplasm. Two breeding crosses were selected per heterotic group and resistant genotypes identified. Newly developed lines will be advanced and screened as S3's on one tester, and second year screening made on three testers for WCR. The most promising WCR lines will be screened for Fusarium, fumonisin mycotoxin, and ECB. The genetic basis of resistance will be studied by diallel analysis, and recurrent selection initiated for WCR.