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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #109055
Title: SYNTHESIS OF CHEMICAL DEFENSES IN MAIZE SILKS AGAINST CORN EARWORM AND THEIR INHERITANCE IN THE FLAVONOID PATHWAY

Author
item Widstrom, Neil
item SNOOK, MAURICE - UNIVERSITY OF GA
item Guo, Baozhu

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2000
Publication Date: 1/1/2001
Citation: Widstrom, N.W., Snook, M.E., Guo, B. 2001. Synthesis of chemical defenses in maize silks against corn earworm and their inheritance in the flavonoid pathway. In: Ananthakrishnan, T.N., editor. Insects and Plant Defense Dynamics. Enfield, New Hampshire: Science Publishers. p. 55-69.

Interpretive Summary: Book Chapter - Interpretive Summary not required.

Technical Abstract: Twenty-five different genes are known which effect flavonoid synthesis in maize. Approximately one-half of these, located on 7 of the 10 chromosomes, have been identified as having significant impact on the synthesis of biologically active flavones in maize silks. The most recent gene found to be associated with maysin concentration is sh2, gene closely linked to a1 on chromosome 3. F2 plants derived from sh2 kernels of some high-maysin dent x no-maysin shrunken-2 hybrids produce silks with two to three times as much maysin as those derived from dent kernels. The location of this gene on the long arm of chromosome 3 and its mechanism for maysin enhancement is being investigated. Additionally, the consolidated results from several mapping studies of maysin and its analogues have been used to identify a total of 29 significant molecular markers, suggesting the existence of QTL with some importance for genetic control of antibiotic compounds exist on 13 of 20 chromosome arms. Furthe investigation of antibiotic flavone related compounds will help to obtain an understanding of their relationship in the flavonoid pathway and their synthesis processes.