The involvement of a PIG3 homolog quinone oxidoreductase gene in maize resistance to insects and fungi demonstrated through transgenic expression in maize callus

Authors: Dowd, Patrick; Johnson, Eric

Submitted to: Plant Gene
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Insects and disease greatly reduce corn yields. Corn ear molds can produce toxins harmful to people and animals, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in the U.S. alone. Plant resistance is an economical means to reduce corn ear damage caused by insects and corn ear molds, but there continues to be a need to determine what genes are involved in producing resistance. A gene isolated from a chromosome region that was previously associated with ear rot resistance was evaluated for its resistance role. The gene had a postulated role of producing toxic oxygen species molecules. When introduced into corn cells, cell clumps that had the gene reduced growth of maize pest caterpillars and a representative ear rot fungus compared to cell clumps that did not contain the gene. Analysis of the cell clumps that were active against insects and fungi indicated a higher toxic oxygen species level caused lesser growth of maize pests. This knowledge can be used to guide breeding for insect and ear rot resistance in crop plants, thereby enhancing yield, quality and safety.

Technical Abstract: Insect and pathogen damage of maize inhibits sustainable production. Discovery of maize genes coding for products active against both classes of pests would significantly accelerate the rate of development of resistant varieties. A quinone oxidoreductase gene homologous to apoptosis related P53 inducible gene 3 (PIG3) in vertebrates was identified as a pest resistance candidate in a quantitative trait locus region for maize ear rot resistance. The quinone oxidoreductase gene was cloned from a Fusarium resistant inbred of maize and expressed in maize callus. The transformed callus had some significant resistance to the maize pathogen F. graminearum, compared to control transformants and was often highly resistant to two major caterpillar pests of maize. Presence or introduction of an optimally functional form of this gene should lead to enhanced resistance of maize to major insect and fungal pests.