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<ol>
<li>Transfer and pyramid resistance to Aspergillus flavus and/or aflatoxin into inbreds adapted for commercial hybrid production. </li>
<li>Collect, increase and maintain seed from all known cultivars with resistance to Aspergillus flavus and/or aflatoxin. </li>
<li>Rate elite commercial hybrids in central
Louisiana, Mississippi,USDA/ARS, and Illinois AES breeding programs for resistance to Aspergillus flavus and/or aflatoxin.</li></ol>
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Crosses will be made with resistant germplasm in the breeding program and inbreds targeted for improvement. F3 progeny from crosses will be screened for presence of Aspergillus flavus and/or aflatoxin.</p>
<P>
Following identification of resistant lines backcrosses will be made. A total of four backcrosses are planned. Genes for assistance will be compounded by crossing resistant inbreds. </p>
<P>
A literature search will be made to identify all germplasm that has demonstrated resistance to Aspergillus flavus and/or aflatoxin. The corn collection at Ames and other germplasm repositories will be contacted and a request for donation of seed will be made. The lines will be increased at the Dean Lee Research Station in Alexandria and stored in deep freeze. Lines will be evaluated for aflatoxin each year to provide a phenotypic database of resistance.</P>
<P>
Recommended cultivars in the LAES Commercial Corn Hybrid Test, Mississippi, USDA/ARS, and Illinois AES
corn breeding programs will be inoculated at Alexandria and tested for aflatoxin resistance.</p>