Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #161434
Title: FUNCTIONAL GENOMIC APPROACH TO ELIMINATE AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN CORN

Author
item Guo, Baozhu
item LUO, MENG - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item LEE, DEWEY - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: International Plant Protection Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Guo, B., Luo, M., Lee, D. 2004. Functional genomic approach to eliminate aflatoxin contamination in corn [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Plant Protection Congress, May 9-17, 2004, Beijing, China.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Genomic approaches and conventional studies are being used in my program to improve food safety and to understand host resistance mechanisms. Corn becomes contaminated with aflatoxins when subjected to prolonged periods of heat and drought stress. To meet the challenge of prevention of preharvest aflatoxin contamination, it will be necessary to have a more detailed understanding of the organization and function of the genetic material of corn in response to environmental stresses. The genes that control functions leading to plant reaction to the environmental stress and fungal infection must be identified. Our research studies are focusing on identification of resistance genetic sources and characterization of the resistance mechanisms. Drought tolerance, for example, may be determined by many genetic factors. The "one-gene-at-a-time" approach for analyzing gene function is inadequate. It is now possible to locate multiple genes of plants in responding to environmental stresses and fungal infection. Research progress has been made in our laboratories in genetic evaluation and selection for drought tolerant germplasm and gene identification and characterization. We use EST/microarray technology to study the whole genome as influenced by drought stress and Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination. Because of the complexity of the Aspergillus-plant (corn) interactions, better understanding of the genetic mechanisms of resistance will be needed using both conventional and molecular breeding for crop improvement and control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination.