Identification of Genetic Markers for Resistance to Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Accumulation

Facilitate marker assisted corn breeding efforts as well as development of transgenic cotton to enhance resistance to aflatoxin contamination. Identify genes encoding resistance associated proteins (RAPs), e.g., antifungal, stress responsive, or interfering with toxin signaling pathways, in developing and mature corn kernels through transcriptional profiling of Aspergillus flavus infected corn seed. Determine if hyperdiversity in aflatoxigenicity is driven by variation in nuclear composition.