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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195298
Title: MICROARRAY GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES OF MAIZE IN RESPONSE TO DROUGHT STRESS AND ASPERGILLUS INFECTION

Author
item LUO, M - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item LEE, R - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Guo, Baozhu

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 7/28/2006
Citation: Luo, M., Lee, R.D., Guo, B. 2006. Microarray gene expression profiles of maize in response to drought stress and Aspergillus infection [abstract]. Phytopathology. 96:S71.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxin contamination of corn in the field is known to be influenced by numerous factors. Drought stress is conducive to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation. Drought tolerant germplasm could reduce preharvest aflatoxin contamination. The objective of this study is to understand the changes of gene expression in response to drought stress, and to identify the associated biochemical pathways and resistant genes. The maize inbred lines of Tex6 and B73 were used in this study. Tex6 has been reported to have reduced aflatoxin contamination and resistant to A. flavus. B73 is used as a susceptible control. Transcriptional profiles of kernels at the 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 day after pollination (DAP) were compared under normal and water deficit conditions using the 70-mer maize oligonucleotide arrays from Maize Oligonuleotide Array Project. Based on the preliminary data, 117 genes related with adversity resistance were used as probes using real-time RT-PCR to evaluate the gene expression in the preharvest kernels at 35 DAP from inbred lines Tex6, A638, LO964, LO1016, B73 and MO17. A638, TEX6 and LO964 had more up-regulated genes in comparison with B73. If B73, LO1016 and MO17 were used as reference lines, respectively, there were 10 cross-talking positive genes which can be selected from A638, TEX6 and LO964. These genes are related with drought response and disease resistance.