Identification of Maize Breeding Markers through Investigations of Proteins Associated with Aflatoxin-Resistance

摘要

The goal of a collaborative research project between International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria and ARS-Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) in New Orleans is to develop maize inbred lines with resistance against aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus flavus. A second goal is to identify gene markers in these lines to facilitate their use in U.S. breeding and African national programs. To accomplish this, comparative proteomics of near-isogenic lines varying in aflatoxin accumulation is being employed to identify kernel resistance associated proteins with (RAPs). A number of RAPs have been identified and several further characterized through physiological and biochemical investigations conducted to determine a potential role in resistance and, therefore, fitness as breeding markers. Three RAPs, a trypsin inhibitor, pathogenesis-related protein and glyoxalase I were investigated as well, using RNAi gene silencing and plant transformation. Results of proteome and characterization studies are discussed.