AFLATOXIN REDUCTION IN MAIZE

THE RESEARCH WILL HAVE TWO MAJOR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1. IDENTIFY MAIZE GENOTYPES WITH RESISTANCE TO KERNAL ROTS CAUSED BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS AND/OR A. PARASITICUS. 2. SEARCH FOR GENETIC FACTORS THAT INHABIT THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF AFLATOXINS FOLLOWING FUNGAL GROWTH OF THESE ASPERGILLUS SPECIES. THE EXPECTED PRODUCTS INCLUDE: 1. KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GENETIC SCREENING FOR RESISTANCE TO ASPERGILLUS GROWTH AND TO TOXIN PRODUCTION; 2. PLANT GENETIC STOCKS RESISTANT TO GROWTH OF ASPERGILLUS SPECIES; 3. GENETIC STOCKS CARRYING FACTORS WHICH INHABIT AFLATOXIN SYNTHESIS EVEN WHEN SOME GROWTH OF ASPERGILLUS FUNGI OCCURS. RESISTANT MAIZE TYPES WOULD THEN BE USED IN BREEDING PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE STRAINS HAVING REDUCED LIKELIHOOD OF CONTAINING AFLATOXIN. GERM PLASM COLLECTIONS AND BREEDING STOCKS FOR THE RESEARCH PROGRAM WILL BE OBTAINED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF MAIZE & WHEAT (MEXICO) AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IBADAN, NIGERIA). DIRECT COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL MAIZE PROGRAM OF GUATEMALA IS PLANNED. SHORT-DAY TYPES OF MAIZE WHICH CANNOT BE GROWN TO MATURITY IN THE US WILL BE TESTED IN GUATEMALA, THROUGH COOPERATION WITH ICTA (INSTITUTO DE CIENCIA Y TECHNOLOGIA AGRICOLAS). PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, A COMMERCIAL SEED FIRM, WILL COOPERATE THROUGH ITS LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH PROGRAM AND ALSO BY FURNISHING BREEDING STOCKS FOR TESTING. SPECIAL COOPERATION WILL BE MAINTAINED WITH THE USDA-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, NORTHERN REGIONAL LABORATORY AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS, PARTICULARLY TO FURTHER REFINE ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR RAPID, ACCURATE DETECTION OF AFLATOXIN. RESEARCH RESULTS AND ANY RESISTANT BREEDING STOCKS DISCOVERED WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO ALL INTERESTED GROUPS.