Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major cereal crop, the second most cultivated crop in the world.
Maize is used for human consumption, livestock feed, and biofuel. In addition to its economic
importance, maize has been a widely used model species for genetics and plant biology. Among the
limitations to maize production and seed quality, the several diseases caused by Fusarium are severe
and largely diffused. Maize research has been oriented towards distinguishing the levels of
resistance to ear rot caused by Fusarium verticillioides, however, it has not yet been possible to
clarify the model of genetic action of the resistance that could guide the selection of resistant
genotypes. The Multi-parent Advance Generation Intercross (MAGIC) maize population was
previously used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Fusarium seedling rot resistance using
the rolled towel assay (RTA) that allows fast and reliable phenotyping at early developmental
stages. Production of transcriptomic data specific to the infection phase may increase the precision
by which candidate genes are identified. RNA-Seq approach was used to compare the genome-wide
gene expression patterns in maize scutella and early germinating shoots in the eight MAGIC maize
founder lines in mock and F. verticilloides treated seeds. The RTAs were performed at 48, 72, 96,
120, 168 hours post inoculation (hpi) under two conditions control and treated to identify the
appropriate time point for the investigation of MAGIC maize founder lines transcriptome profiles.
Twenty seeds were used for each RTA in both treatments, in the treated, the seeds were inoculated
with 100 μl of a 3.5 x 106 ml-1 spore suspension of F. verticillioides ITEM10027 (MPVP 294).
Real-time PCR was applied on plant and pathogen specific genes to identify the best time point for
RNA extraction, which turned out to be 72 hpi. RNA was extracted from the scutella and early
germinating shoots and a total of 48 cDNA libraries (8 genotypes x 2 conditions x 3 biological
replicates) have been produced and subjected to sequencing. Transcriptomic data on the parental
lines will be projected onto recombinant inbred lines reconstructed genomes and used to narrow
down QTL intervals to their genetic determinants. The defense-related transcriptional changes will
shed light on and related them to the specific genomic regions identified by QTL mapping.
Lingua originale | Inglese |
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Titolo della pubblicazione ospite | SCIENCE AND INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INTENSIFICATION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PLANT GENETICS AND BREEDING |
Pagine | 18 |
Numero di pagine | 1 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2019 |
Evento | LXIII SIGA Annual Congress - Napoli Durata: 10 set 2019 → 13 set 2019 |
Convegno
Convegno | LXIII SIGA Annual Congress |
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Città | Napoli |
Periodo | 10/9/19 → 13/9/19 |
Keywords
- MAGIC population
- Maize
- RnaSeq
- Transcriptomics