Unravelling the genetic basis of Fusarium resistance in different maize populations

Fungal infection by Fusarium verticillioides is cause of substantial reductions in maize yield\r\nand grain quality worldwide. Developing natural resistance in maize genotypes is an effective way\r\nto achieve sustainable control of F. verticillioides in the field, and breeding for resistance may be\r\naccelerated by identifying genes and loci responsible for natural disease resistance. Significant\r\nadvances have been made in the development of transcriptomic, genetic and genomic information\r\nfor maize, F. verticillioides moulds, and their interactions over recent years. Several quantitative\r\ntrait loci (QTL) and single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for resistance to Fusarium deriving\r\nfrom QTL mapping and genome-wide association studies have been described in three different\r\nmaize populations: 1. Bi-parental population; 2. Association mapping panel; 3. Multi-parent\r\nAdvanced Generation Inter Crosses (MAGIC). To guide the identification of candidate genes within\r\nthe identified QTL, transcriptomic and sequencing information have been exploited. Promising\r\ncandidate genes associated with disease resistance and pathogen related-mechanisms at the\r\nFusarium resistant loci have been identified on maize chromosomes 4, 5 and 7. Many of the\r\nidentified candidates genes offer hints to key metabolic pathways that may have a significant effect\r\non reducing Fusarium infection. Measuring Fusarium resistance in open field could confirm and\r\nsupport their direct use in maize breeding either through crosses or genome editing approaches.