ARS | Publication request: Sources of Resistance to Fumonisin and Fusarium Ear Rot of Corn

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: October 25, 2002
Publication Date: September 1, 2004
Citation: Clements, M.J., Maragos, C.M., Pataky, J.K., White, D.G. 2004. Sources of resistance to fumonisin and fusarium ear rot of corn. Mycopathologia 157:417.

Technical Abstract: Fumonisins have been associated with serious toxicoses of animals and humans. Although corn (Zea mays L.) inbreds with resistance to kernel infection by Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenb. (Syn = F. moniliforme J. Sheld.) and/or to Fusarium ear rot have been reported, inbreds with a high level of resistance to fumonisin have not been identified. F1 crosses of nearly 1600 inbreds with the widely used inbred, FR1064, were evaluated for a low concentration of fumonisin in grain and resistance to Fusarium ear rot in inoculated and naturally infected plots in 2000. Thirty-five F1 crosses with a concentration of fumonisin in grain less than or equal to 5µg/g at both locations were selected for further study. The inbreds from which these 35 F1 crosses were produced form a genetically diverse group, including yellow, white and red kernelled lines; flint and dent lines; and early through late maturing lines. In 2001, a low concentration of fumonisin and low severity of Fusarium ear rot were associated with several of the F1's and their distinct F2 and BCP2 generations. This suggests that several dominant genes are involved in resistance, and that alleles for resistance from these inbreds can be transferred to FR1064.