An official website of the United States government.
<OL> <LI> Make publicly available a predictive computer program for mycotoxin levels in Midwest
corn and adapt as necessary for a wider range of human food use corn varieties. <LI>Use
molecular biological approaches to discover, introduce, and evaluate new insect
resistance genes (producing bioactive proteins and secondary metabolites), alone and
in combination. <LI>Use molecular biological approaches to discover, introduce, and
evaluate plant-derived selectable markers for transgenic plant production.
As part of the process of making the program publicly available, feedback on the
present state of the program will be sought and utilized as appropriate. An
electronic module to assist in making control decisions will be developed and
incorporated. The program will be tested for utility in food grade corn by comparing
actual field collected data with predicted levels and correcting as necessary
empirically. Genes identified in the prior project that are potentially useful in
combination will be examined in model systems and further evaluated. New genes of
potential use will be identified through functional targeting of cDNA, array-based
technology. Molecular evolution of genes coding for resistance proteins will be
utilized to further optimize efficacy against insects, while at the same time
minimizing vertebrate effects. Gene product efficacy will be examined in model
systems and in regenerated corn. Plant-derived genes involved in toxin resistance
will be the ultimate focus of the investigation, although genes from other sources
will initially be examined if appropriate plant-derived gene sequence information is
not yet sufficient for cloning. Efficacy of target gene products as selectable
markers and against insects, alone and in combination with insect-active genes, will
be investigated.