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Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for reducing aflatoxin accumulation in corn

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Abstract

Aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus in corn poses significant health risks to both humans and livestock. Exploitation of host-plant resistance in breeding programs is a sustainable way to minimize aflatoxin contamination. Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in kernels can accelerate development of aflatoxin-resistant corn using marker-assisted selection. An F2:3 mapping population, developed from a cross involving a resistant inbred Mp715 and a susceptible inbred B73, was evaluated in replicated field trials with developing ears artificially inoculated with A. flavus for 2 years to identify QTL for reduced aflatoxin accumulation. Using composite interval mapping, 6 to 7 QTL for aflatoxin content were identified in both years with contribution of individual QTL ranging from <1 to 10% of phenotypic variation. More QTL were detected for husk coverage with phenotypic variance range of <1 to 16% explained by individual QTL. Both B73 and Mp715 alleles at these QTL loci contributed toward resistance. Husk coverage and aflatoxin levels were significantly correlated in both years. Our findings were further supported by overlapping of QTL for husk coverage ratings in four genomic regions on chromosomes 4, 8, and 10, where aflatoxin resistance QTL were reported in previous studies. Since most of the QTL were of low to moderate effects, pyramiding of these QTL may lead to enhanced resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in corn.

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2010-85117-20559, and the National Corn Growers Association. The manuscript is approved for publication by the Director of Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, USA, as manuscript number 2016-306-26061.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Ramesh Dhakal & Prasanta K. Subudhi

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

    Gary L. Windham & W. Paul Williams

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  1. Ramesh Dhakal
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  2. Gary L. Windham
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  3. W. Paul Williams
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  4. Prasanta K. Subudhi
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Correspondence to Prasanta K. Subudhi.

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Electronic supplementary material

Fig. S1

Frequency distributions of the original aflatoxin concentration (ng g-1) in an F2:3 mapping population derived from the cross B73 x Mp715 at the LSU Agricultural Center Central Research Farm in 2012 (A) and 2013 (B). Arrows indicate mean values for hybrid (F1) and parents, B73 and Mp715 (GIF 32 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIFF 315 kb)

Fig. S2

Frequency distributions of the husk coverage rating in an F2:3 mapping population derived from the cross B73 x Mp715 at the LSU Agricultural Center Central Research Farm in 2012 (A) and 2013 (B). Arrows indicate mean values for hybrid (F1) and parents, B73 and Mp715 (GIF 27 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIFF 270 kb)

Fig. S3

Relationship between aflatoxin content (ppb) and husk coverage rating (HC) in F2:3 mapping population (B73 x Mp715) inoculated with A. flavus at Central Research Station, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge (Combined analysis) (GIF 73 kb)

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Dhakal, R., Windham, G.L., Williams, W.P. et al. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for reducing aflatoxin accumulation in corn. Mol Breeding 36, 164 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-016-0590-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-016-0590-8

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