Progress 02/01/10 to 01/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience: The primary audiences of this project were diverse and included: students to be cross trained in applied plant breeding, pathology, molecular genetics and extension; Texas and US Corn producers needing to decrease aflatoxin and drought losses in their crop; researchers on maize aflatoxin and drought, plant breeders, plant geneticists; corn breeding companies, corn seed companies, and food consumers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Throughout the life of this project many graduate students, technical support staff, undergraduates, high school workers and producers were reached. For the trainees of the project, many of the publications and research results of this project were led by or contributed to by these students and young professionals. Early in the project there was an opportunity for a study abroad to CIMMIYT for undergraduate and graduate students to learn how research is conducted in the developing world and how they are addressing the problems of aflatoxin and drought losses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been distributed differently to different stakeholders as documented in publications and in previous reports. To students there have been various opportunities from direct supervision and training under the project, field and lab opportunities through the project, to outreach activities such as study abroad. To producers there has been new knowledge developed through the project which has been communicated through a website, through extension publications and publications and through direct interaction. To other researchers, professional publications and presentations have been the main outreach for communicating the work of this project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major accomplishments from this integrated project came from the connection and interactions between all three Land Grant Missions of research, education, and extension. This program was conducted in the critical area of improving maize (Zea mays L.; i.e. corn) for Texas and Southern conditions against the dual (and often related) threats of aflatoxin contamination and drought stress. Early on in the research phase of the project we successfully identified novel alleles for two closely related maize lipoxygenase (LOX) genes in a variety of genetic backgrounds and surprisingly found that some lines are absent or even have multiple copies of the LOX5 gene, previously thought to be highly conserved! We then tested all newly discovered alleles in a very large and unique association mapping study for genetic variation in aflatoxin and drought. Although we did not find significant associations with aflatoxin in the study, we did identify three novel loci that conditioned five to eight bushels per acre of yield each under both drought and well watered conditions! These are being confirmed in ongoing follow up studies by a graduate student. Using a separate approach, as proposed, we created LOX5 knockout near isogenic inbred line sets in 15 unique genetic backgrounds. We have found that in inbred lines the knockouts accumulate substantially less aflatoxin, however in isogenic hybrid pairs there has seemed to be no discernable trend. We are continuing to collect additional years of data to determine if there is appreciable environmental interaction which could prevent us from detecting the effect of this gene in the isogenic hybrids. This and other project work was conducted and primarily led by graduate students and/or undergraduate students as part of the goal to conduct next generation training at the interface of plant breeding, genetics and pathology. Many of these students have or will be soon graduating and plan to stay in these research areas. These graduate students have also benefitted from a number of informal training opportunities and have led peer reviewed publications and/or given presentations associated with the project. A distance web class is now offered for distance PhD students and curriculum revisions were made to address gaps identified through this project. These graduate students were also exposed to a tremendous amount of extension programming conducted under this project. Many thousands of producers were reached through presentations and many more were researched through publications and the project website. This has made a documented improvement in producer's knowledge to prevent or reduce aflatoxin and helped to direct the research in ways the producer could adapt. Overall this project accomplished significant progress in all goals 1) Maize hybrids that use less water, can better withstand drought, are safe from mycotoxins for consumers, and can provide sustainable income for growers. 2) Students with enhanced understanding and translation of basic biology and applied pathology into plant breeding and experience with extension programming. 3) Increased public awareness of issues relating to drought, water use and aflatoxin. Additional ongoing work is continuing to further the progress of this project into the future.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Yan Y, Huang PC, Borrego E, Kolomiets M. 2014. New perspectives into jasmonate roles in maize. Plant Signal Behav. 9(10):e970442.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Christensen SA, Nemchenko A, Park YS, Borrego E, Huang PC, Schmelz EA, Kunze S, Feussner I, Yalpani N, Meeley R, Kolomiets MV. 2014. The Novel Monocot-Specific 9-Lipoxygenase ZmLOX12 Is Required to Mount an Effective Jasmonate-Mediated Defense Against Fusarium verticillioides in Maize. Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2014 Nov; 27(11):1263.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Murray, S.C.* 2014. Plant Breeding Approaches and Technologies for Challenges in Agriculture: A View from a Texas Maize Breeding Program. National Association of Plant Breeders Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. 8/3-8/5/2014. (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kolomiets, M. 2014. Surprising functions of maize lipoxygenases in interactions with pathogens and symbionts. Department of Plant Pathology. University of Wisconsin-Madison. February 4, 2014 (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kolomiets, M. 2014. Jasmonic acid and green leaf volatiles in maize development and defense against insects and pathogens. Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia. May 5, 2015. (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kolomiets, M. 2014. Diverse functions of jasmonic acid and green leaf volatiles in maize development and defense. International Symposium on Plant Lipids, University of Guelph, Canada, July 8, 2014. (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kolomiets, M. 2014. Novel functions of jasmonic acid and green leaf volatiles in maize development and defense. Purdue University. Department of Horticulture. September 11, 2014 (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kolomiets, M. 2014. Corn green leaf volatiles and jasmonates regulate defense against insects. TAMU, Department of Entomology. October 2, 2014 (invited talk)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2014. Grain Disease Update. Upper Gulf Coast Feed Grain & Cotton Conference, Wharton, TX, Jan. 23, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2014. Corn Diseases/Fungicides, 2014 Crop Tour, Texas A&M Brazos Bottom Research Farm, June 5, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2014. Evaluation of atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus for reduction of aflatoxin contamination of maize on commercial farms in Texas, USA, 36th Mycotoxin Workshop, G�ttingen, Germany, June 18, 2014
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Isakeit, T., A. Abrameit, W.M. Arnold, M. Jungman, K.J. Matheney, R. McGuill, G.C. Moore and J.R. Stapper. 2014. Evaluation of atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus for reduction of aflatoxin contamination of maize on commercial farms in Texas, USA. 36th Mycotoxin Workshop of the Society for Mycotoxin Research, G�ttingen, Germany, June 18, 2014. (Abstract) http://www.mycotoxin-workshop.de/36th_Mycotoxin_Workshop_2014_-_Proceedings.pdf
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Murray, S.C. 2014. Current Approaches and Activities in the Texas A&M Maize Breeding Program. Corn Breeding Webinar Series Organized by Rex Bernardo. 12/5/2014. (invited talk)
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Barerro, I.D.F., Gerald De La Fuente, Seth C. Murray, Thomas Isakeit, Pei-Cheng Huang, Marilyn Warburton, Paul Williams, Gary L. Windham, Mike Kolomiets. 2015. Genome Wide Association Study for Drought, Aflatoxin Resistance, and Important Agronomic Traits of Maize Hybrids in the Sub-Tropics. PLoS ONE
|
Progress 02/01/13 to 01/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Researchers on maize aflatoxin and drought, Texas and US Corn producers, plant breeders, plant geneticists, students, corn breeding companies, corn seed companies, food consumers. Changes/Problems: The major problem is that despite substantial development the LOX 4 isogenic lines had to be discontinued because the assays we used were not proving repeatable. However, this has allowed us space and resources to expand the creation and testing of LOX5 isogenic lines and hybrids. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Five graduate students, five undergraduate students, one visiting professor, one high school worker, and two technical support staff were associated with this project this year and gained both training and personal development. This was across field, laboratory, analysis, and writing. Many of the publications and research results of the project were led by or contributed to by these students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Peer reviewed publications; International, national, regional and local presentations; program websites; email, phone and personal interactions with stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the next period we plan to formally test the LOX5 and wildtype isogenic lines and hybrids. We plan to analyse, write, submit and publish additional papers on the outcomes of this project. We also plan to continue to train students, and educate producers. Finally, we have developed populations to confirm significant single nucleotide polymorphisms identified by association mapping under this project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Elite alleles at LOX genes were identified and evaluated under previous periods but the data has now been analysed and submitted for publication. The elite maize lines near-isogenic for LOX5 and wildtype have been finished, were testcrossed in the winter nursery to be tested in hybrid combination this summer. The assays for the mutant LOX4 allele did not appear to be repeatable (or were highly prone to further mutation) and these lines were not further advanced. A number of graduated students and undergraduates were trained across disciplines and otherwise impacted. Two of these students graduated and went on to other plant breeding positions. The graduate level courses continued to be taught both in class and at a distance. A number of additional peer reviewed publications were accepted, more were submitted and others are in preparation, many led by students. Popular press and website communications continued as in past years. In total in this period alone, 411 people were reached through extension activities from this project and were awarded a total of 178 CE hours for learning about aflatoxin. Public awareness on aflatoxin has been improved.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
De La Fuente, G.N, S.C. Murray, T. Isakeit, Y.-S. Park, Y. Yan, M. Warburton, and M.V. Kolomiets. 2013. Characterization of Genetic Diversity and Linkage Disequilibrium of ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 Loci in Maize. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53973.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit T., S. Murray, J. Savage, and R. McHugh. 2013. Aflatoxin and fumonisin in transgenic corn hybrids in Burleson County, Texas, 2012. Plant Disease Management Reports 7:FC030
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Barerro, I.D.F., S.C. Murray, D. Pietsch, and S. Labar. 2013. A multi-environment trial analysis of commercial maize shows a slight grain yield improvement in Texas. Field Crops Research. 149:167-176.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
De La Fuente, G.N, I. Barrero, S.C. Murray, T. Isakeit, M.V. Kolomiets. Improving Maize Production Under Drought Stress: Traits, Screening Methods, and Environments. In M. Pessarakli (ed.) Handbook of Plant and Crop Stress. Taylor & Francis.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Evaluation of atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus for aflatoxin control in corn on commercial farms in Texas. Phytopathology 103(Suppl.2):S2.65
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Murray, S.C. 2013. Breeding and genetics of maize for a changing climate: heat, drought, and aflatoxin stress. Next Generation Plant Breeding Symposium. Manhatten, KS. 4/2/2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Barrero, I.D., G.N. De La Fuente, M. Warburton, W.P. Williams and S.C. Murray 2013. Association Mapping Analysis for Drought and Aflatoxin in Maize using a Tropical and Sub-Tropical panel. Maize Meeting. St. Charles, IL. 3/14-17/2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Aflatoxin reduction in corn using biocontrol. American Seed Trade Association meeting, Chicago, IL, Dec.13, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Corn, cotton and sorghum disease update. Fort Bend County Crops Tour, Rosenberg, TX, July 2, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Corn and sorghum disease update. 2013 Fayette County Crops Tour, La Grange, TX, June 20, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Aflatoxin update. Milam County Mid-season Crops Clinic. Thorndale, TX, April 19, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Management of aflatoxin with Afla-Guard and AF-36. 2013 Corn Disease Working Group Meeting, St. Louis, MO, Feb. 28, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Grain diseases update. Upper Gulf Coast Feed Grain and Cotton Conference. Wharton, TX, Jan. 24, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. 2013. Aflatoxin research. Mycotoxin working group meeting. College Station, TX, Jan. 7, 2013.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Isakeit, T. Management of aflatoxin on corn. 2013. Plant Management Network Webcast (18 minutes)http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/corn/Aflatoxin/
|
Progress 02/01/12 to 01/31/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The purpose of the project: The main purpose of the project is to ensure a productive, safe and secure supply of food and feed now and in the future. Natural diversity is being investigated at genes in maize (corn) we believe could make the plants yield better under drought and resist being contaminated by a fungal carcinogen, aflatoxin. Drought, aflatoxin and low yield are the major problems for maize farmers in the Southern US. We are strengthening education and training of graduate students in the latest science and technology in plant breeding and pathology needed for crop improvement in the future. We are impacting farmers with extension programing on methods and technology for reducing losses from drought and aflatoxin. Objectives and Accomplishments: Research We have tested 667 hybrids derived from an association panel crossed to one of two isogenic versions of Tx714; one version with a knockout mutation for the LOX4 gene (334 hybrids) and one version with a knockout mutation in the LOX5 gene (333 hybrids). These mutants have been shown to condition quantitative variation in drought tolerance (lox4) and in aflatoxin resistance (lox5). These hybrids were evaluated under two water regimes (full season stress and well watered) in two environments along with inoculation of Aspergillus flavus in three environments. Yield and yield components (kernel row number, thousand seed weight, etc.), agronomic traits (height, flowering time, etc.), composition via near infrared spectroscopy, and aflatoxin content were measured. Significant differences were observed for the genotypes in aflatoxin accumulation, yield under drought and other traits. We sequenced lox4 and lox5 in this association panel and identified novel alleles we are now testing through association mapping. Under a separate objective of the study, lox4 and lox5 mutant alleles, and novel null alleles continue to be backcrossed into eight elite Texas adapted maize lines. Hybrids will be produced in the 2013 summer nursery for 2014 small plot and on-farm trials and eventual release. Education A graduate level classes in Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding (Murray) and Molecular Plant Pathology (Kolomiets) were developed and fit to a web based format for distance/ web-based education. Many students were trained and impacted. Extension We continued to develop and deliver extension programming to producers both through extension educational materials and presentations. PARTICIPANTS: Project Directors: Seth C. Murray, Mike Kolomiets, Tom Isakeit Directly trained through independent leadership in project objectives: Pei-Cheng Huang (PhD student), Ivan D. Barrero-Farfan (PhD student), Gerald De La Fuente (MS student), Yuanxin Yan (Postdoc); undergraduate students: Ryan McHugh, Michael Spiegelhauer, Andrew Beamsley, Joseph Beard. Collaborations with USDA-ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS. M. Paul Williams, Marilyn Warburton, Gary Windham, Brien Henry. TARGET AUDIENCES: Research: Maize and aflatoxin researchers, students, improved food safety for the public Education: graduate students, undergraduate students, improved food safety for the public, increased yield and profit for farmers Extension: increased yield and profit for farmers, improved food safety for the public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None
Impacts
Three MS/PhD students, one post-doctoral scholar, four undergraduates and two high-school students were directly trained under this project who will help create a vital and competitive workforce for increasing agricultural productivity. Many extension publications and multiple presentations on aflatoxin have reached many farmers (over 1600 participants) and changed their practices resulting in increased food safety, decreased on-farm losses, and increased profitability. New findings on genetic diversity to improve maize yield, decrease losses from drought, and decrease aflatoxin will be used in traditional field breeding and marker assisted selection. The significance of our findings to Food and Agriculture: Safe, secure, inexpensive and increasingly productive agricultural commodities result in increasing American prosperity. Maize (corn) is the most productive crop and farmers plant it because there is high demand, it is easy to grow and often profitable. The private sector excels in maize improvement in the Midwest, but the Southern US receives little investment and productivity is lagging. Two major problems facing Southern US farmers are losses due to drought and aflatoxin (a carcinogen produced in the grain by a fungus). Losses can be most efficiently reduced through plant breeding and genetic improvement. We are looking for natural genetic variants of two genes (lipoxygenases) in diverse maize that we believe can improve drought and aflatoxin stress. We crossed these into adapted corn that farmers would want to grow. Many crosses were made and tested to see if these variants are desirable. Well trained students to further improve crops are needed in the public private breeding sectors and we have developed educational materials and trained > 50 students. We are providing Texas farmers with ongoing, unbiased extension education on how to value and use new corn technologies, through development of literature, oral presentations and on-farm demonstrations.
Publications
- De La Fuente, G.N, S.C. Murray*, T.Isakeit, Y.-S. Park, Y. Yan, M. Warburton and M.V. Kolomiets. 2013. Characterization of genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium of ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 Loci in maize. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53973. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053973
- Yan Y., S. Christensen, T. Isakeit, J. Engelberth, R., Meeley, A. Hayward, R.J. Emery, M. Kolomiets. 2012. Disruption of OPR7 and OPR8 Reveals the Versatile Functions of JA in Maize Development and Defense. Plant Cell 24:1420-1436.
- Isakeit, T., S. Murray, J. Wilborn, and B. Hassett. 2012. Aflatoxin and fumonisin in transgenic corn hybrids in Burleson County, Texas, 2011. Plant Disease Management Reports 6:FC019.
- Barerro-Farfan, I.D.F., S.C. Murray, D. Pietsch, S. Labar. 2012. Meta-analysis of Texas corn performance trials of commercial hybrids. ASTA CSS; Chicago, IL 12/4-7/2012
- De La Fuente, G., S.C. Murray, M. Kolomiets, T. Isakeit and I. Barerro-Farfan. 2012. Genetic diversity in members of the Z. mays lipoxygenase gene family and its utility in association mapping for drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance. Plant and Animal Genome Meeting; San Diego, CA 1/13-18/2012
- Murray, S.C., G.N. De La Fuente, I.D. Barrero-Farfan, M.L. Warburton, W. P.l Williams, G.L. Windham, Y.-S. Park, Y. Yan, T.Isakeit, M.V. Kolomiets. 2012. Genetic diversity in maize aflatoxin resistance and drought tolerance: translation plant breeding, education and extension. NAPB Annual Meeting; Indianapolis, IN 8/6-8/2012
- Murray, S.C., M. Kolomeits, T. Isakeit, G. De La Fuente, I. Barerro-Farfan. 2012. Improving maize against aflatoxin and drought: translational plant breeding, education, and extension. USDA Awardees Meeting-Plant and Animal Genome Conference. 1/13/2012
|
Progress 02/01/11 to 01/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: ---Research --- In this project period we tested 470 hybrids from an association panel that had been crossed to one of two isogenic versions of Tx714, one with knockout mutations for the LOX4 gene (242) and one with knockout mutation in the LOX5 gene (228). These mutants have been shown to condition quantitative variation in drought tolerance (lox4) and in aflatoxin resistance (lox5). Two water regimes, full season stress and well watered, were used along with inoculation of Aspergillus flavus. Yield and yield components (kernel row number, thousand seed weight, etc.), agronomic traits (height, flowering time, etc.), composition via near infrared spectroscopy, and aflatoxin content were measured. Significant differences were observed for the genotypes in aflatoxin accumulation and yield under drought. Summer and winter nurseries were grown to increase seed for additional hybrid testing in 2013 to be followed with association mapping. As a separate objective of the study, lox4 and lox5 mutant alleles continued to be backcrossed into eight elite Texas adapted maize lines. Many of these lines are in the BC3F2 stage now and hybrids will be produced in the 2012 summer nursery for 2013 small plot and on-farm trials. Publications are in preparation and progress can be observed on the project website http://aflatoxin.tamu.edu . ---Education--- We continued to develop, refine and integrate our graduate level classes in Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding (Murray) and Molecular Plant Pathology (Kolomiets) to fit to a web based format for distance/ web-based education. ---Extension--- We continued to develop and deliver extension programming to producers both through extension educational materials and presentations. PARTICIPANTS: ---Directly trained this period through independent leadership in project objectives----: Ivan Barrero: PhD student - led aspects of hybrid seed production, and phenotyping. Gerald De La Fuente: MS student - led aspects of project yield trial, and sequencing. Yuanxin Yan: Postdoc -assisted with southern blotting. ---Assisted in achieving field and lab objectives in this period for this project:--- Graduate students: Adam Mahan, Jim Wilborn; Undergraduate students: Ryan McHugh, Andrew Beamsley, Joeseph Beard; High school students: Travis Rooney and David Rooney. --- TAMU, PLPA 613 (Advanced Plant Pathology). Laboratory on aflatoxin analysis of corn, November 8, 2011. Six plant pathology graduate students.--- Over 1000 growers and others involved in agriculture at 13 county meetings and field days TARGET AUDIENCES: Extension publications and the project website http://aflatoxin.tamu.edu PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Both the LOX4 and LOX5 genes appear to have alleles with disrupted reading frames and others that are potentially absent. These may be used as a source of null alleles and easily selected in breeding programs for quantitative reduction in drought and aflatoxin stress. Multiple graduate students are being trained and producers educated. More outcomes and impacts will be discussed at the end of the project.
Publications
- Murray S.C., G. De La Fuente, T. Isakeit, M.V. Kolomiets, K. Mayfield, G. Odvody, Y-S Park, M.L. Warburton, J.C. Wilborn, W.P. Williams, and G.L. Windham. 2011. Techniques, technologies and approaches to improve maize aflatoxin resistance. Genetics of Maize Disease Workshop. Raleigh, NC. 2/20-23/2011.
- Mayfield, K.L., S.C. Murray, W.L. Rooney, T. Isakeit, and G.A. Odvody. 2011. Confirmation of QTL reducing aflatoxin in maize testcrosses. Crop Science. 51:2489-2498.
- Boote, K.J., A.M.H. Ibrahim, R. Lafitte, R. McCulley, C. Messina, S.C. Murray, J.E. Specht, S. Taylor, M.E. Westgate, K. Glasener, C.G. Bijl, and J.H. Giese. 2011. Position Statement on Crop Adaptation to Climate Change. Crop Science 51:2337-2343.
- Barrero-Farfan, I. D., S.C. Murray, D. Pietsch, and S. Labar. 2011. Metanalysis of the texas corn crop testing program. NAPB Annual Meeting; College Station, TX 5/13-25/2011
- Isakeit, T., S. Murray, and J. Wilborn. 2011. Efficacy of Afla-Guard (Aspergillus flavus NRRL 21882) to control mycotoxins on corn in Burleson County, Texas, 2010. Plant Disease Management Reports 5:FC091.
- Isakeit, T., S. Murray, and K. Mayfield. 2011. Aflatoxin and fumonisin in transgenic corn hybrids in Burleson County, Texas, 2009. Plant Disease Management Reports 5:FC090.
- Isakeit, T. 2011. Evaluation of atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus for aflatoxin control in corn on commercial farms in Texas -2011. Extension publication
- Isakeit, T. 2011. Prevention of aflatoxin contamination of corn using AF-36 or Afla-Guard. Extension publication PLPA-FC009-2011
- De La Fuente, G.N., I. Barrero-Farfan, S.C. Murray, M. Kolomiets, T. Isakeit, and Y.S. Park. 2011 Improving drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance in maize via altered lipid metabolism. NAPB Annual Meeting; College Station, TX 5/13-25/2011
- Hague S., E. Runge, S. Feagley, J. Aitkenhead-Peterson, C. Morgan, S. Murray, J. Foster and R.Vesey. 2011. Study abroad programs in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University. ASA-CSSA-SSA Meeting. 10/16-19
- Murray, S.C., M. Kolomiets, T. Isakeit, and G.D. De La Fuente. 2011. Improving drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance in maize; education, extension, and translational breeding via altered lipid metabolism. USDA awardee meeting 1/12/2011
- Yan, Y.,Y.-S. Park, S. Christensen, E. Borrego, X. Gao, G. De la Fuente, K. Mayfield, S.C. Murray, H.Wilkinson, T. Isakeit, W.-B. Shim, R. Meeley, and M. Kolomiets. 2011. Modulating lipid-derived signaling to improve corn traits. NAPB Annual Meeting; College Station, TX 5/13-25/2011
- Murray S.C., G. De La Fuente, T. Isakeit, M.V. Kolomiets, K. Mayfield, G. Odvody, Y-S Park, M.L. Warburton, J.C. Wilborn, W.P. Williams, and G.L. Windham. 2011. Improving pre-harvest aflatoxin resistance in maize: new genetic and phenotypic approaches NCC167 Corn Breeders Meeting. St. Charles, IL. 3/15-16.
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Progress 02/01/10 to 01/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research: We have successfully amplified 3' portions of ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 genes(two members of the large LOX gene family with many close relatives) in 300 of the 400 USDA/NPGS maize association panel lines and Texas breeding lines to identify natural allelic diversity. We intend to use these alleles and these lines in an association mapping analysis to determine their global significance in drought tolerance (LOX4) and aflatoxin resistance (LOX5). Because we wish to test these alleles and inbred lines in a commercially relevant way as hybrids, they have been testcrossed with a pair of elite Texas iso-lines that have knockout mutations for lox4 and lox5 respecively. We expect enough seed to plant replicates of 300 of these hybrids for phenotyping next year as proposed. We proposed, as a separate objective of the study, to backcross knock-out mutant lox4 and lox5 alleles from B73 into eight elite Texas adapted maize lines. We have backcrossed double (lox4, lox5) and single mutant alleles into 11 Texas adapted lines. Due to different flowering time "nic" for hybrids and backcross parents there currently are 23 successful backcrosses at either BC1F2 or BC2F1. This should not significantly affect the project because LOX4 and LOX5 are on different chromosomes so double mutants should be easily created from two single mutant backcrosses or vice versa. Education: We proposed to take eight students to CIMMYT in Mexico to learn about the challenges of maize production where aflatoxin and drought are both problems. Leveraging funds we were able to take 20 undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines including one from another institution. We proposed to recruit an undergraduate student for an internship and were able to recruit two over the summer one from the Engineering College and one formally at the University of Wisconsin, now at INRA in France. Both were engaged in all aspects of the breeding program, participated in lab activities and worked on independent research projects. We proposed to integrate our classes for web / distance based education. Two of the PIs currently teach graduate level classes in Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding (Murray) and Molecular Plant Pathology (Kolomiets). Various components of these classes are currently being integrated and made to fit in a web based format for distance/ web-based education. The goal of this is to fill a gap in translating basic molecular scientific discoveries into understandable concepts for breeding and genetics. Extension: We proposed to integrate information on aflatoxin and drought into the extension plant pathologists (Isakeit) program. From the 13 extension presentations related to this project given to 663 growers it is obvious that this information is viewed as important and relevant to producers. We proposed to include students into extension programming and students were intimately involved in a corn breeding field day and were able to interact with producers to better learn of their problems. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Murray - PD, field breeding and project direction; Dr. Kolomiets - co-PD, LOX genes and sequencing; Dr. Isakeit - co-PD, extension activities; Dr. Yan (Postdoc) - assisted with southern blotting and PCR amplifications; Mr. De La Fuente (MS student / undergraduate - led all aspects of project germplasm development, and sequencing); Ms. Wightman (undergraduate intern 1- assisted with all aspects of field work, NIRS especially project germplasm development); Mr. Galea (undergraduate intern 2- assisted with all aspects of field work, especially NIRS); One MS, One post-doc and two interns (all above) were trained under this project; A field day was hosted and 13 extension talks reaching 663 growers were made, most which they received IPM credits for. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
While the project has not yet finished its first year there were immediate impacts. Research: Both the LOX4 and LOX5 genes appear to have alleles with disrupted reading frames and others that are potentially absent these may be used as a source of null alleles and easily scored in breeding programs. Education: Two interns are planning on going to graduate school to work on plant breeding related topics. Extension: Producers are more aware of options and research for aflatoxin prevention and management.
Publications
- Murray,S.C., Kolomiets, M.V., Isakeit, T., Mayfield, K.L. 2010. Improving Drought Tolerance and Aflatoxin Resistance in Maize; Education, Extension, and Translational Breeding via Altered Lipid Metabolism; USDA- NIFA Project Director Meeting for Plant Genomics and Breeding, San Diego, CA.
- Kolomiets, M.V., Murray, S.C., Isakeit, T., Mayfield, K.L. 2010. An update on the recent grant funded by USDA NIFA: Improving Drought Tolerance and Aflatoxin Resistance in Maize; Education, Extension, and Translational Breeding via Altered Lipid Metabolism. Mycotoxin Workshop Meeting. College Station, January 12, 2010.
- Extension publication. 2010.: PLPA-PPB002-2010 "Best Management Practices to Prevent or Reduce Mycotoxin Contamination of Corn in Texas" available at http://aflatoxin.tamu.edu/aflatoxin.html
- Extension publication. 2010.: PLPA-FC005-2010 "Aflatoxin in Baled Corn" available at http://aflatoxin.tamu.edu/aflatoxin.html
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