Skip to main content

Breeding for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize

Mycotoxin Research volume 22, pages 27–32 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Contamination of maize,Zea mays, grain with aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxin produced byAspergillus flavus, frequently reduces the value and marketability of maize produced in the southern USA. Drought, high temperatures, and insect damage are often associated with high levels of maize aflatoxin contamination. Growing resistant maize hybrids is generally considered the most feasible method of reducing or eliminatingA. flavus infection and subsequent accumulation of aflatoxin. Developing appropriate screening techniques and identifying maize germplasm with resistance to aflatoxin contamination provides the foundation for a breeding program. Only a few sources of aflatoxin resistance have been identified. Four germplasm lines (Mp313E, Mp420, Mp715, and Mp717) have been developed and released by USDA-ARS at Mississippi State University. NC 388, developed at North Carolina State University, is reported as another putative source of aflatoxin resistance. Conventional phenotypic selection was used to successfully combine resistance to aflatoxin contamination from two of these lines, Mp313E and Mp715, with desirable agronomic qualities from Va35. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to aflatoxin contamination will also permit the use of marker assisted selection in transferring resistance into elite germplasm lines. Development of parental inbreds that combine aflatoxin resistance with superior agronomic quality is an essential component of a hybrid maize breeding program designed to reduce or eliminate aflatoxin contamination.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Castegnaro M, McGregor D (1998) Carcinogenic risk assessment of mycotoxins. Rev Med Vet 149: 671–678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Payne G (1992) Aflatoxins in maize. Crit Rev Plant Sci 10: 423–440

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Widstrom M (1996) The aflatoxin problem with corn grain. Adv Agron 56: 219–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. McMillian W, Wilson D, Widstrom N (1985) Aflatoxin contamination of preharvest corn in Georgia a six-year study of insect damage and visibleAspergillus flavus. J Environ Qual 14: 200–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dowd P (2003) Insect management to facilitated preharvest mycotoxins management. J Toxicol-Toxin Rev 22: 327–350

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Zummo N, Scott G (1989) Evaluation of field inoculation techniques for screening maize genotypes against kernel infection byAspergillus flavus in Mississippi. Plant Dis 73: 313–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Windham G, Williams W, Buckley P, Abbas H (2003) Inoculation techniques used to quantify aflatoxin resistance in corn. J Toxicol-Toxin Rev 22: 313–325

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Scott G, Zummo N (1988) Sources of resistance to maize kernel infection byAspergillus flavus in the field. Crop Sci 28: 504–507

    Google Scholar 

  9. Scott G, Zummo N (1990) Preharvest kernel infection byAspergillus flavus for resistant and susceptible maize hybrids. Crop Sci 30: 381–383

    Google Scholar 

  10. Scott G, Zummo N (1994) Kernel infection and aflatoxin production in maize byAspergillus flavus relative to inculation and harvest dates. Plant Dis 78: 123–125

    Google Scholar 

  11. Williams W, Windham G, Buckley P (2003) Enhancing maize germplasm with resistance to aflatoxin contamination. J Toxicol-Toxin Rev 22: 175–193

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Scott G, Zummo N (1990) Registration of Mp313E parental line of maize. Crop Sci 30: 1378

    Google Scholar 

  13. Williams W, Windham G (2001) Registration of dent corn germplasm line Mp715. Crop Sci 41: 1374–1375

    Google Scholar 

  14. Windham G, Williams W (2002) Evaluation of corn inbreds and advance breeding lines for resistance to aflatoxin contamination in the field. Plant Dis 86: 232–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Truckess M, Stack M, Nesheim S, Page S, Albert R, Hansen T, Donahue (1991) Immuno-affinity column coupled with solution fluorometry or liquid chromatography postcolumn derivatization for determination if aflatoxins in corn, peanuts, and peanut butter: collaborative study. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 74: 81–88

    Google Scholar 

  16. Williams P, Windham G (2006) Registration of maize germplasm line Mp717. Crop Sci 46: In press.

  17. Brooks T, Williams W, Windham G, Willcox M, Abbas H (2005) Quantitative trait loci contributing resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize inbred Mp313E. Crop Sci 45: 171–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Williams W, Davis F, Windham G, Buckley P (2002) Southwestern corn borer damage and aflatoxin accumulation in a diallel cross of maize. J Genet & Breed 56: 165–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Williams W, Windham G, Buckley P (2003) Aflatoxin accumulation in maize after inoculation withAspergillus flavus and infestation with southwestern corn borer. J Genet & Breed 57: 365–370

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Williams W, Windham G, Buckley P, Daves C (2002) Aflatoxin accumulation in conventional and transgenic corn hybrids infested with southwestern corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). J Agric Urban Entomol 19: 227–236

    Google Scholar 

  21. Williams W, Windham G, Buckley P, Perkins J (2005) Southwestern corn borer damage and aflatoxin accumulation in conventional and transgenic corn hybrids. Field Crops Res 91: 329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit, Box 9555, 39762, Mississippi State, MS, USA

    W. P. Williams

Authors
  1. W. P. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. P. Williams.

Additional information

Financial support Unitec States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Servce and the Mississ no Agricultural and Forestry Expecment Station

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, W.P. Breeding for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize. Mycotox Res 22, 27–32 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954554

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954554

Keywords

  • aflatoxin
  • Aspergillus flavus
  • maize
  • mycotoxin
  • plant breeding