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Genetic gain and cost efficiency of marker-assisted selection of maize for improved resistance to multiple foliar pathogens

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Abstract

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum, gray leaf spot (GLS) caused by Cercospora zeae-maydis and maize streak caused by maize streak Mastrevirus (MSV) are the most destructive foliar diseases limiting maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Most foliar diseases of maize are managed using quantitative (partial) resistance, and previous studies have reported quantitative trait loci associated with host resistance (rQTL). Our objective was to compare the genetic gain and costs resulting from phenotypic, genotypic, and marker-assisted selection of partially inbred lines derived from many families for resistance to infection by three foliar pathogens. We developed a population of 410 F2:3 families by crossing inbred line CML202 with a breeding line designated VP31. These families were planted in nurseries inoculated separately with each pathogen. We conducted one cycle of early generation pedigree selection using three different procedures, phenotypic, genotypic, and marker/phenotypic index, for improvement of resistance to each pathogen. We used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers flanking six target rQTL associated with partial resistance. Broad- and narrow-sense heritability estimates were also obtained for the F2:3 families, and selected and non-selected F2:4 families. Genetic gains resulting from the selection procedures were determined. Gene action of the candidate rQTL was determined using orthogonal contrasts. Estimates of costs based on lower boundary values indicated that the cost of marker-based selection was lower than that of phenotypic selection. Our results indicate that molecular markers linked to target rQTL can facilitate pyramiding resistance to multiple diseases during early generation pedigree selection.

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Abbreviations

CIMMYT:

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

GLS:

Gray leaf spot

MAS:

Marker-assisted selection

MSV:

Maize streak virus

NCLB:

Northern corn leaf blight

rQTL:

Resistance quantitative trait locus/loci

SSR:

Simple sequence repeat

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Acknowledgments

We thank David Francis and Steve St. Martin for reviewing earlier drafts of the manuscript. We are especially grateful to Mark Casey, Sebastian Mawere and Audrey Johnston who provided valuable technical assistance. G. Asea received support from Integrated Pest Management/Cooperative Research Support Program (IPM/CRSP) grant No. CR-19053-425231 from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Salaries and research support were provided by state and federal funds appropriated to The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). This manuscript was published as OARDC manuscript number HCS09-12. The mention of names of firms or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by The Ohio State University over other firms or similar products not mentioned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cereals Research Program, National Crops Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda

    Godfrey Asea

  2. Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    Richard C. Pratt

  3. CIMMYT, P.O. Box MP163, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Bindiganavile S. Vivek

  4. Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    Patrick E. Lipps

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  1. Godfrey Asea
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  2. Bindiganavile S. Vivek
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  3. Patrick E. Lipps
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  4. Richard C. Pratt
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Correspondence to Godfrey Asea.

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Asea, G., Vivek, B.S., Lipps, P.E. et al. Genetic gain and cost efficiency of marker-assisted selection of maize for improved resistance to multiple foliar pathogens. Mol Breeding 29, 515–527 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-011-9568-8

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