Biotech Updates

Development the Inbred Maize lines for Fusarium Ear Rot Disease Resistance

September 26, 2018

Fusarium ear rot is a disease that cause significant yield loss in maize globally. Breeding maize varieties with ear rot resistance by using traditional procedures is inefficient, because the process is time-consuming and requires great efforts in transferring resistant genes into good hybrids. Therefore, the use of molecular markers in developing Fusarium-resistant maize varieties is more feasible. 

In a study by Huy Minh Vuong from Maize Research Institute in Vietnam and colleagues, six SSR markers are used to select inbred lines with resistance to Fusarium ear rot from F5 and BC5 maize populations. These markers include Umc1025, Dupssr34, Nc030, SSR93, Umc1489, and Umc1511, which are linked to Fusarium ear rot genes in maize plants. Results showed eleven lines positive to these SSR markers. They selected eight lines with different marker combinations for further breeding.

For more information, read the article in Vietnamese Journal of Science and Technology.