Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Corn Host Plant Resistance Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240934
Title: Diallel Analysis of Fumonisin Accumulation in Maize

Author
item Williams, William
item Windham, Gary

Submitted to: Field Crops Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2009
Publication Date: 10/1/2009
Citation: Williams, W.P., Windham, G.L. 2009. Diallel Analysis of Fumonisin Accumulation in Maize. Field Crops Research. 114:324-326.

Interpretive Summary: Contamination of corn grain with fumonisin or aflatoxin, mycotoxins produced by the fungi Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus, substantially reduces its value and acceptance as human food or animal feed. Growing corn hybrids with genetic resistance to the accumulation of fumonisin or aflatoxin in the grain is widely considered a highly desirable way to reduce losses. Corn germplasm developed in Mississippi has exhibited resistance to aflatoxin accumulation. In this investigation three lines with resistance to aflatoxin accumulation and three additional lines were crossed in all possible combinations. The resulting hybrids were evaluated for resistance to fumonisin accumulation in field tests. Hybrids produced from two of the lines that were developed and released as sources of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation also exhibited resistance to fumonisin accumulation. This indicates that these two lines, Mp715 and Mp717, should be useful in breeding lines and hybrids with resistance to both fumonisin and aflatoxin contamination.

Technical Abstract: Contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) grain with aflatoxin, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link:Fries, or fumonisin, produced by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides (Saccardo) Nirenberg (Syn=F. moniliforme Sheldon), greatly reduces its value and marketability. Host resistance to fungal infection and mycotoxin accumulation is considered a highly desirable way to reduce losses of both aflatoxin and fumonisin. Maize germplasm lines with resistance to aflatoxin accumulation have been developed in Mississippi. Three of the aflatoxin-resistant lines and five additional lines were used as parents to produce a diallel cross. The diallel cross was evaluated for fumonisin accumulation in field tests conducted in Mississippi in 2007 and 2008. General combining ability (GCA) was a highly significant source of variation in both 2007 and 2008, but specific combining ability (SCA) was not significant. GCA effects for reduced fumonisin levels were highly significant for Mp715, Mp717, and GA209. Mp715 and Mp717 were developed and released as sources of resistance to aflatoxin contamination and exhibit resistance as inbred lines and in hybrid combinations. These lines should be useful in developing maize lines and hybrids with resistance to both fumonisin and aflatoxin accumulation in grain. Breeding methods that maximize the use of GCA should be useful in enhancing resistance to both fumonisin and aflatoxin accumulation. GA209 also exhibited favorable GCA for resistance to fumonisin accumulation, but this line is highly susceptible to aflatoxin accumulation. If used in breeding programs to develop maize with resistance to fumonisin accumulation, care to avoid increasing susceptibility to aflatoxin accumulation would be needed.