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The Effect of Aspergillus flavus on Seedling Development in Maize

Summary

Aspergillus flavus is a dangerous fungus that contaminates maize crops and produces toxic aflatoxins harmful to human and animal health. Researchers tested maize varieties to identify which are naturally resistant to this fungus using a simple laboratory method. They found significant differences in resistance among maize varieties and proposed a new evaluation system to help identify resistant varieties before they are sold to farmers, which could help reduce aflatoxin contamination in our food supply.

Background

Aspergillus flavus is a fungal pathogen that colonizes maize kernels and produces aflatoxins, which are among the most toxic mycotoxins. High temperature and humidity in recent seasons have increased A. flavus parasitic ability and aflatoxin contamination levels in maize crops worldwide.

Objective

To develop a simple methodology using rolled towel assay (RTA) to test the susceptibility of maize varieties to A. flavus before market release, and to evaluate resistance in both inbred lines and commercial hybrids for use in varietal registration processes.

Results

High variability in fungal susceptibility was observed among tested lines, with different effects on seedling development. Hybrids responded statistically differently to A. flavus infection and were categorized into three clusters of susceptibility. Interestingly, hybrid 6a-A showed less susceptibility than its reciprocal 6a-B, suggesting a parental effect on resistance.

Conclusion

The RTA assay provides a simple but effective methodology for evaluating A. flavus resistance in maize. Four classes of susceptibility were proposed for use in varietal registration. Breeding lines released between 2001-2022 showed poor improvement in genetic resistance to A. flavus, highlighting the need for future research on resistance breeding to mitigate climate change impacts on agriculture.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40219178, DOI: 10.3390/plants14071109
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