Identification and Validation of Insect and Disease Resistance Mechanisms to Reduce Mycotoxin Production in Midwest Corn

Objective 1: Evaluate known resistance-associated maize genes to determine their effects on insects and associated mycotoxigenic fungi, as well as toxin production. Subobjective 1A. Select and clone candidate resistance genes. Subobjective 1B. Express candidate resistance genes in maize callus and evaluate for effects on insects and mycotoxigenic fungi. Subobjective 1C. Express the best candidates identified in Subobjective 1B in regenerated plants and evaluate for insect and fungal resistance. Objective 2: Use RNA interference to control the regulation of mycotoxins in maize, identify novel genetic mechanisms that may reduce mycotoxin levels produced by Fusarium fungus species, and develop novel strategies to help breeders use the genes. Subobjective 2A. Develop RNA interference expression vectors to reduce DON production in Fusarium graminearum and fumonisin production in F. verticillioides. Subobjective 2B. Transform maize to express optimal RNAi constructs for reduced mycotoxin levels, and evaluate for reduced levels of mycotoxins in inoculated ears.