Research Project: Development of Aflatoxin Resistant Corn Lines Using Omic Technologies

Location: Food and Feed Safety Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Micro RNA (miRNA) profiling of maize genotypes with differential response to Aspergillus flavus implies zma-miR156–squamosa promoter binding protein and zma-miR398/zma-miR394-F-box cominations involved in resistance mechanism - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gandham, P., Rajasekaran, K., Sickler, C., Mohan, H., Gilbert, M., Baisakh, N. 2024. Micro RNA (miRNA) profiling of maize genotypes with differential response to Aspergillus flavus implies zma-miR156–squamosa promoter binding protein and zma-miR398/zma-miR394-F-box cominations involved in resistance mechanism. Stress Biology. 4. Article 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-024-00158-w.

Dynamic geospatial modeling of mycotoxin contamination of corn in Illinois: unveiling critical factors and predictive insights with machine learning - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castano-Duque, L., Winzeler, E., Blackstock, J.M., Cheng, L., Vergopolan, N., Focker, M., Barnett, K., Owens, P.R., van der Fels-Klerx, H.J., Vaughan, M.M., Rajasekaran, K. 2023. Dynamic geospatial modeling of mycotoxin contamination of corn in Illinois: unveiling critical factors and predictive insights with machine learning. Frontiers in Microbiology. 14:1283127. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283127.

Gradient boosting machine learning model to predict aflatoxins in Iowa corn - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Branstad-Spates, E.H., Castano-Duque, L., Mosher, G.A., Hurburgh, Jr., C.R., Owens, P., Winzeler, E., Rajasekaran, K., Bowers, E.L. 2023. Gradient boosting machine learning model to predict aflatoxins in Iowa corn. Frontiers in Microbiology. 14:1248772. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1248772.

Comprehensive meta-analysis of QTL and gene expression studies identify candidate genes associated with Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Baisakh, N., Da Silva, E.A., Pradhan, A.K., Rajasekaran, K. 2023. Comprehensive meta-analysis of QTL and gene expression studies identify candidate genes associated with Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14:1214907. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1214907.

Predictive models to manage mycotoxin outbreaks in the USA - (Abstract Only)

Predictive models to manage mycotoxin outbreaks in the USA - (Abstract Only)

Multiplexed host-induced gene silencing of Aspergillus flavus genes confers aflatoxin resistance in groundnut - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Prasad, K., Yogendra, K., Sanivarapu, H., Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J.W., Sharma, K.K., Bhatnagar-Mathur, P. 2023. Multiplexed host-induced gene silencing of Aspergillus flavus genes confers aflatoxin resistance in groundnut. Toxins. 15:319. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15050319.

Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of synthetic peptides GV185 and GV187 - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sweany, R.R., Cary, J.W., Jaynes, J.M., Rajasekaran, K. 2023. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of synthetic peptides GV185 and GV187. Plant Disease. 107(10):3211-3221. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-22-2572-RE.

Effect of Aspergillus flavus fungi infection and aflatoxin contamination on single corn kernel mechanical strength - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yao, H., Hruska, Z., Kincaid, R., Tao, F., Rajasekaran, K. 2023. Effect of Aspergillus flavus fungi infection and aflatoxin contamination on single corn kernel mechanical strength. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 39(2):197-205. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15266.

A low-cost, portable device for detecting and sorting aflatoxin-contaminated maize kernels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yao, H., Zhu, F., Kincaid, R., Hruska, Z., Rajasekaran, K. 2023. A low-cost, portable device for detecting and sorting aflatoxin-contaminated maize kernels. Toxins. 15:197. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15030197.

Characterization of a stress-enhanced promoter from the grass halophyte, Spartina alterniflora L - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sengupta, S., Pehlivan, N., Mangu, V., Rajasekaran, K., Baisakh, N. 2022. Characterization of a stress-enhanced promoter from the grass halophyte, Spartina alterniflora L. Biology. 11(12):1828. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121828.

Flavonoids modulate Aspergillus flavus proliferation and aflatoxin production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castano-Duque, L., Lebar, M.D., Carter-Wientjes, C., Ambrogio, D., Rajasekaran, K. 2022. Flavonoids modulate Aspergillus flavus proliferation and aflatoxin production. The Journal of Fungi. 8(1):1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8111211.

Gradient boosting and bayesian network machine learning models predict aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in Illinois – First USA case study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castano-Duque, L., Vaughan, M., Lindsay, J., Barnett, K., Rajasekaran, K. 2022. Gradient boosting and bayesian network machine learning models predict aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in Illinois – First USA case study. Frontiers in Microbiology. 13. Article 1039947. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1039947.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging for evaluation of aflatoxin contamination in corn kernels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tao, F., Yao, H., Hruska, Z., Kincaid, R., Rajasekaran, K. 2022. Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging for evaluation of aflatoxin contamination in corn kernels. Biosystems Engineering. 221:181-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.07.002.

Why do plant-pathogenic fungi produce mycotoxins? Potential roles for mycotoxins in the plant ecosystem - (Review Article)
Sweany, R.R., Breunig, M., Opoku, J., Clay, K., Spatafora, J.W., Drott, M.T., Baldwin, T.T., Fountain, J.C. 2022. Why do plant-pathogenic fungi produce mycotoxins? Potential roles for mycotoxins in the plant ecosystem. Phytopathology. 112(10):2044-2051. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-22-0053-SYM.

Resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize mediated by host-induced silencing of the Aspergillus flavus alkaline protease (alk) gene - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Omolehin, O., Raruang, Y., Hu, D., Han, Z.-Q., Wei, Q., Wang, K., Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J.W., Chen, Z.-Y. 2021. Resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize mediated by host-induced silencing of the Aspergillus flavus alkaline protease (alk) gene. The Journal of Fungi. 7(11):904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110904.

Flavonoids modulate the accumulation of toxins from Aspergillus flavus in maize kernels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castano-Duque, L.M., Gilbert, M.K., Mack, B.M., Lebar, M.D., Carter-Wientjes, C.H., Sickler, C.M., Cary, J.W., Rajasekaran, K. 2021. Flavonoids modulate the accumulation of toxins from Aspergillus flavus in maize kernels. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12:761446. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.761446.