Maize defence mechanisms against the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Maize is arguably the most widely grown crop in the world, but it is often associated with one of its major insect pests, the European corn borer (ECB). The damage caused by this species to maize production is generally variable, but in many cases it is economically significant. This review paper provides an overview of the research findings on the natural plant defence mechanisms against ECB larvae published till now. What is resistance and how it is achieved, what is the chemical response of maize plants to insect feeding and how tolerance can be increased. A short introduction in breeding for resistance and a discussion if the mentioned traits can be used in conventional breeding in order to create maize hybrids less affected by ECB are given.     

Breeding cereals for rust resistance in Australia

Rust diseases have caused significant losses to Australian cereal crops, and continue to pose a serious threat. Because Australian cereal crop yields are generally low, genetic resistance remains the most economical means of rust control. Resistant cultivars also contribute significantly to reducing over-summer rust survival. A policy of releasing only rust resistant wheats in northern New South Wales and Queensland has resulted in industry-wide protection from rust in this region for the past 40 years. The Australian Cereal Rust Control Program conducts annual pathogenicity surveys for all cereal rust pathogens, undertakes genetic research to identify and characterize new sources of resistance, and provides a germplasm screening and enhancement service to all Australian cereal breeding groups. These three activities are interdependent, and are closely integrated with particular emphasis on linking pathology and genetics to ensure breeding outcomes. Recent changes in the wheat rust pathogens, including the development of virulences for Yr17 , Lr24 , Lr37 and Sr38 resistance genes, and the introduction of a new pathotype of the wheat stripe rust pathogen, have provided new and significant challenges for wheat rust resistance breeding. Similar challenges exist in breeding barley and oats for rust resistance. Examples are discussed to illustrate the ways in which rust isolates are providing information that can be used in breeding for rust resistance. In future, as more markers linked to durable rust resistance sources become available, it is likely that the use of marker-assisted selection will become more common-place in rust resistance breeding.     

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service research on improving host-plant resistance to pests

Host-plant resistance is an efficient, economical and environmentally benign approach used to manage many pests and diseases of agricultural crops. After nearly a century of research, the resources and tools have become more refined, but the basic tasks in breeding for resistance have not changed. Resistance must be identified, incorporated into elite germplasm, and deployed in a form useful to growers. In some instances, biotechnology has expedited this process through incorporating a foreign gene(s) for resistance into elite germplasm. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has made significant contributions in the development of germplasm with resistance to insects, nematodes and plant diseases. Because resistant plant varieties are an essential component of sustainable production systems, ARS is committed to developing techniques and germplasm to help meet this goal.     

Maize Virus and Mycoplasma Diseases in Peru

Abstract

Surveys of maize for virus and mycoplasma-like diseases were conducted in Peru in 1978 and 1980. The following pathogens were discovered and identified: aphid-borne maize dwarf mosaic virus, beetle-borne maize chlorotic mottle virus, Peregrinus maidis-borne maize mosaic and maize stripe viruses, and Dalbulus maidis-borne maize rayado fino virus, corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS) and maize bushy stunt mycoplasma (MBSM). Some of these insect-borne pathogens are important constraints to maize production in Peru. Maize chlorotic mottle in the department of Lima and Cajamarca and ‘puca poncho’, a disease caused by CSS and/or MBSM, in Ayacucho significantly limit maize yields. As a result of these surveys, we believe that the principal maize virus and mycoplasma-like diseases in Peru have been identified, an accomplishment unrealised in other Latin American countries at present.     

玉米病害发生现状与推广品种抗性对未来病害发展的影响

 随着全球气候变化、耕作方式改变和新品种推广,我国玉米病害的发生也有所改变。在春玉米区,丝黑穗病仍然持续严重为害,大斑病呈加重趋势;在夏玉米区,局部地区小斑病发生较重,而矮花叶病普遍发生较轻;以往的次要病害已成为重要病害:如,南方锈病在夏玉米区南部严重发生,瘤黑粉病成为生产中的突出问题,土传病害日益加重,细菌性病害发生渐多。对玉米主要推广品种、近年国家和主产省份审定品种的抗病性分析表明,在北方春玉米区,由于品种抗性水平降低、个别感病品种的推广及病原菌致病力变异,大斑病在近年仍将呈现较重发生趋势;丝黑穗病的发生则由于推广抗病品种和种子包衣技术而有所减轻,但局部地区仍会严重发生;由于缺乏抗病品种,灰斑病和弯孢菌叶斑病的发生将主要取决于气候因素。在北方夏玉米区,小斑病暴发的可能性较小,但已有强致病力菌株出现;由于推广品种普遍对茎腐病抗性水平较低并受耕作制度的影响,茎腐病和苗枯病将成为主要病害;多数品种对南方锈病缺乏抗性,南方锈病发生面积将继续扩大,发病程度也将增加。     

The genetic architecture of disease resistance in maize: a synthesis of published studies

ABSTRACT Fifty publications on the mapping of maize disease resistance loci were synthesized. These papers reported the locations of 437 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for disease (dQTL), 17 resistance genes (R-genes), and 25 R-gene analogs. A set of rules was devised to enable the placement of these loci on a single consensus map, permitting analysis of the distribution of resistance loci identified across a variety of maize germplasm for a number of different diseases. The confidence intervals of the dQTL were distributed over all 10 chromosomes and covered 89% of the genetic map to which the data were anchored. Visual inspection indicated the presence of clusters of dQTL for multiple diseases. Clustering of dQTL was supported by statistical tests that took into account genome-wide variations in gene density. Several novel clusters of resistance loci were identified. Evidence was also found for the association of dQTL with maturity-related QTL. It was evident from the distinct dQTL distributions for the different diseases that certain breeding schemes may be more suitable for certain diseases. This review provides an up-to-date synthesis of reports on the locations of resistance loci in maize.     

河北省主推玉米品种对粗缩病抗性鉴定及病情指标与产量损失率关系研究

对河北省26个主推玉米品种进行抗玉米粗缩病性鉴定,并对其发病率及病情指数与产量损失率的相关性进行了研究。结果表明:河北省目前玉米生产上主推品种中没有免疫和抗病品种,但感病后品种之间的病情严重度有显著差异,病情指数分布在35.37～80.05,产量损失率为15.55%～74.01%。以邢抗2号、费玉2号、费玉4号、沈玉17和农大108的病情严重度较轻,病情指数低于40,表现为感病,其他品种病情指数都在40以上表现为高感。产量损失率与病株率和病情指数呈显著相关,且产量损失率与病情指数的相关性(R=0.982)比产量损失率与病株率的相关性(R=0.756)更强。     

Inheritance of maize resistance to gibberella and fusarium ear rots and kernel contamination with deoxynivalenol and fumonisins

The objective of this study was to investigate the stability, across well‐differentiated environments, of genetic control of maize resistance to Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides ear rots and mycotoxin contamination, found in genotypes of diverse origin and adapted to different environments. This knowledge will help to design the most appropriate breeding programme to reduce mycotoxin content across a wide range of environments. Although maize genetics involved in resistance to ear rots and mycotoxin contamination greatly depended on the environment, additive and dominance effects were the predominant genetic effects in most environments. The stability across environments for resistance to ear rots and deoxynivalenol and fumonisin contamination was low, and recommended target areas of breeding programmes for either Fusarium species are different based on the different nature of genetic effect × environment interactions for each species. In general, the classification of inbreds and hybrids according to their resistance levels was similar across environments, suggesting that the same sources of resistance could be suitable for different environments, and breeding for resistance to one species would affect resistance to the other one.     

玉米丝黑穗病的发生条件与防治措施

玉米丝黑穗病是一种全球性的病害,大多数玉米产区都有不同程度的发生,属绝产性病害,植株一旦得病,几乎颗粒无收。70年代后期,玉米丝黑穗病的大面积发生,逐渐成为限制我国玉米单产和总产提高的制约因素,经我国几代农业科学工作者的努力,对玉米丝黑穗病的症状、病原菌、侵染途径、侵染条件、侵染规律,抗病遗传规律等都进行了大量研究。本文介绍了玉米丝黑穗病的发病症状、病菌来源、侵染途径、侵染条件、生理小种等特性,并提出轮作倒茬、选用抗病品种、抗病弱的品种正确包衣种衣剂、药剂拌土、促进出苗、加强田间管理等相应的防治措施。     

Identification of genetic loci conferring partial resistance to southern corn rust through a genome-wide association study

Southern corn rust (SCR), a fungal disease caused by Puccinia polysora Underw., can result in severe yield loss in maize (Zea mays L.). Identification of resistant germplasms and understanding the genetic basis of resistance would aid maize disease-resistant breeding. In this study, 253 maize inbred lines were used to evaluate the resistance to SCR at two locations in China from 2015 to 2016. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using the Maize SNP3K Beadchip. Based on mixed linear model, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with partial resistance to SCR were identified at P < 1.77 × 10^?5, including three SNPs aligned with previously reported genomic regions. A significant correlation (R² = 0.76) between partial resistance to SCR and the number of resistant alleles was observed. Several highly resistant germplasms harboring resistant alleles were identified, such as, ‘43.7’, ‘DH02’, ‘Zheng39’, ‘T2’ and ‘JH3372’. This research will increase our understanding of the genetic basis of partial resistance to SCR and provide important guidance for SCR resistance breeding.     

The epidemiology, variability and control of the downy mildews of pearl millet and sorghum, with particular reference to Africa

Sorghum downy mildew ( Peronosclerospora sorghi ) infecting sorghum and maize, and pearl millet downy mildew ( Sclerospora graminicola ) infecting pearl millet can cause considerable yield loss in Africa. The last 15 years have witnessed an increase in knowledge of the biology, epidemiology and control of these two pathogens. Much information has been obtained on the effect of environmental factors on disease epidemiology, spore production and dispersal. Molecular techniques applied to study pathogenic variability have aided in defining relationships among these pathogens, although scope of the work is limited. Knowledge of the genetics and inheritance of resistance, and of resistance mechanisms, has also increased. This review presents the current state of knowledge of both downy mildew pathogens, with focus on their status on sorghum and pearl millet in Africa. Despite the advances in knowledge over the last 15 years, these downy mildews remain important constraints to sustainable crop production in the semi-arid regions of Africa. In some cases information obtained in Asia and the Americas can be extrapolated to Africa but care must be taken in ensuring its applicability. Priorities for future research relevant for Africa are proposed and discussed.     

不同玉米自交系幼苗对水分胁迫的响应及其耐旱性评价

以9份玉米自交系为试材,采用盆栽试验方法进行苗期的水分胁迫试验,研究土壤水分胁迫对玉米自交系的生长发育及生理特性的影响,并采用多元分析方法对玉米自交系的耐旱性做出了综合评价。结果表明:水分胁迫下,玉米自交系幼苗通过外部形态及内部生理生化变化来响应干旱对其伤害,且耐旱性强的材料变化幅度小于耐旱性差的材料。通过主成分分析将干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗的6个单项指标转化为3个彼此独立的综合指标,并计算得到综合评价D值,比较准确地对玉米自交系材料的耐旱性做出了评价;利用聚类分析将9份玉米自交系材料分为耐旱性不同的四类,即干旱敏感型、弱耐旱材料、中度耐旱材料、高度耐旱材料四类。利用逐步回归的分析方法建立了玉米耐旱性评价回归方程:D=-0.107746+0.35003UWC+1.67684WUE-0.05857REC-0.1699Pro,筛选出适宜干旱胁迫下玉米耐旱性鉴定指标4个,即地下部含水量、水分利用效率、相对电导率、脯氨酸含量。在相同的逆境胁迫下可通过测定其它玉米品种上述4个指标的耐旱系数,利用回归方程进行耐旱性预测;材料8-8-1、KH207 A27-4-2的耐旱性较强,可以在后续试验中进行抗旱育种及栽培研究。     

不同玉米品种对草地贪夜蛾抗性的评估及其在防治中的应用前景

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)是今年入侵我国的农业害虫,对我国的玉米等主要粮食作物产生了重要威胁。在草地贪夜蛾有可能成为我国新的长期粮食害虫的背景下,评测不同玉米品种对草地贪夜蛾的抗性,以确定潜在的高抗性品种,对后续培育抗虫品种有重要的指导意义。由于草地贪夜蛾原产于美洲热带及亚热带地区,且玉米的原产地与种内多样性也主要存在于美洲地区,因此以往大部分玉米品种抗虫性评测研究也主要集中于国外。本文汇总了近年来不同玉米品种对草地贪夜蛾抗性的评估结果,简单介绍了关于玉米对草地贪夜蛾抗性机制的研究进展,并结合玉米抗虫研究的经验及国内玉米遗传多样性研究的现状,提出了充分结合玉米种内多样性与多组学数据分析的研究方法,从而快速确定抗性相关的遗传位点与基因,用于现有高产优良玉米杂交品系对草地贪夜蛾抗性的改良。     

Global incidence of wheat rusts and powdery mildew during 1969–2010 and durability of resistance of winter wheat variety Bezostaya 1

Disease incidence and severity was studied for winter wheat variety Bezostaya 1 and susceptible checks based on data from international nurseries from 1969 to 2010 and from 51 countries across major winter wheat production regions totalling 1,047 reports. The frequency of leaf rust and stripe rust occurrence was stable over time with marked increases in severity in 2001–2010 especially in Europe and Central and West Asia. Substantial global reductions in stem rust occurrence were recorded and attributed primarily to use of resistance genes although the recent emergence of race Ug99 makes wheat more vulnerable. The occurrence of powdery mildew remained globally stable over time. It was the most important foliar disease in Western and Southern Europe, where the frequency was very high for all time periods coupled with slight increases in severity during 2001–2010. The durable resistance of variety Bezostaya 1 to all four diseases was demonstrated in the study using comparisons of disease severities of Bezostaya 1 and the most susceptible entries. The Lr34/Yr18/Pm38 pleiotrophic set possessed by Bezostaya 1 is currently an important target for selection because it is now amenable to molecular selection. Increased use of genes like Lr34 combined with strategies to minimize cultivation of extremely susceptible varieties will contribute to long term maintenance of low and non-damaging disease levels. The durable disease resistance of Bezostaya 1, combined with its adaptability and good end-use quality, was a significant reason for its huge impact in agriculture over the last 50?years.     

Genome-wide association study of resistance to rough dwarf disease in maize

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), caused by the Maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV) is highly prevalent across summer at maize-growing areas in China. To investigate the genetic architecture underlying this viral disease, a set of 236 Chinese maize inbred lines was evaluated for resistance to MRDD in 2010 and 2011. Based on 41,101 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers with minor allele frequencies (MAF) greater than 5 %, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was employed to identify genomic loci for resistance to MRDD. A total of 73 SNPs were found to be associated with resistance to MRDD at a significance threshold of -log10 (P)?>?4 controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) at α?=?0.1. Fourteen of these SNPs were detected in both of the two environments tested. A total of 48 SNPs were identified in linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks containing candidate resistance genes, including protein kinase genes. Using the pedigree information and whole-genome SNP analysis of five highly resistant inbred lines derived from the hybrid ‘P78599’, nine derivative fragments harbouring SNPs associated with MRDD resistance were detected. One 81.57 Mb fragment in particular located in bin 8.03, which contained six SNPs associated with MRDD resistance, and included the major quantitative trait loci (QTL) that had been identified in the previous study. These results suggest that the SNPs and fragments associated with MRDD resistance, especially those in bin 8.03, could be used for fine mapping of resistance genes and developing resistant varieties in maize.     

外引玉米种质对3种玉米叶斑病的抗性鉴定与评价

2012-2013年,应用田间人工接种的方法对引进的165份国外玉米种质进行了玉米大斑病、灰斑病、弯孢菌叶斑病等3种病害同步抗性鉴定与评价,结果表明:引进的国外玉米种质对3种玉米叶斑病的抗性表现均存在差异,表现抗病的种质较少,大部分种质表现感病或高度感病;抗性种质均以中抗为主,表明国外玉米种质对3种叶斑病的抗病能力较低。筛选出一批单抗性种质和兼抗2种或3种叶斑病的多抗性种质37份,为抗病育种提供了重要基础材料。     

我国玉米病毒病分布及危害

玉米是我国最重要的粮食作物之一,病毒病害给我国的玉米生产带来了严重损失。本文归纳总结了目前我国玉米上检测到的水稻黑条矮缩病毒、甘蔗花叶病毒、玉米褪绿斑驳病毒等12种病毒的生物学特点和分布情况。同时对玉米粗缩病、玉米矮花叶病、玉米鼠耳病、玉米红叶病和玉米致死性坏死病等主要玉米病毒病害的发生流行、症状危害和防治措施作了介绍。     

Evaluation of Maize Inbreds for Maize stripe virus and Maize mosaic virus Resistance: Disease Progress in Relation to Time and the Cumulative Number of Planthoppers

ABSTRACT Five tropical maize lines were tested and compared with the susceptible control line B73 for resistance to Maize stripe virus (MStV) and Maize mosaic virus (MMV), both propagatively transmitted by the planthopper Peregrinus maidis (Homoptera: Delphacidae). Resistance to each virus was evaluated separately by artificial inoculations with planthoppers viruliferous for either one virus or the other. Disease incidence and symptom severity progression were quantified in relation to time and the cumulative number of planthoppers. Line Hi40 was found to be susceptible to MStV and highly resistant to MMV. Generally, no MMV symptoms developed on Hi40, even under intense inoculation pressure by a large number of viruliferous planthoppers. Line Rev81 showed a partial but strong resistance to MStV, which mainly reduced disease incidence. Nevertheless, this resistance to MStV was the highest ever reported and held up, even when challenged by large numbers of planthoppers. The percentage of infected plants in line Rev81 never exceeded 30 to 40% in our experiments. Moderate levels of resistance to MStV, and to a lesser extent MMV, were found in lines 37-2, A211, and Mp705. However, resistance in these lines was completely overcome using a large number of insects transmitting either of the two viruses. These results suggest that different types of resistance to MMV and MStV are available in maize lines from Caribbean and Mascarene germ plasm. The expression of virus-specific resistance identified in Hi40 and Rev81 lines was not affected by intense inoculation pressure. In contrast, the moderate resistance in 37-2, A211, and Mp705 was partially effective against both viruses but not at high inoculation pressure. These different types of resistance, when present in the same genotype, could provide protection against both viruses.     

Biological Control of Plant Pathogens: Present Status and Perspectives in Italy

Interest in the biological control of plant pathogens has been increasing in Italy in the last few years. Current or completed research programmes at some University and/or CNR (National Research Council) Institutions concern the following topics: a) biological control of crown gall with Agrobacterium radlobacter strain 84; b) biocontrol of some forestry diseases caused by fungi; c) integrated biological control of grey mould on grapevine; d) biocontrol of Fusarium dry rot on maize and sorghum and of Rhizoctonia rot on eggplant and tomato with Trichoderma viride; e) seed and root≪ bacterization ≫ as a means of biological control of some fungal diseases of horticultural plants; f)≪ suppressive ≫ effect of some Italian soils to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi : g) biologically induced resistance against bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. In this contribution, the results obtained are reported, together with comments on the prospects for practical application of each type of biological control. Evaluation of the reduction in the use of pesticides against the same pathogens is not currently possible, owing to lack of data (except for programmes b) and c) above). Biological control will only become a common and widespread agricultural practice if a number of conditions are satisfied, including the establishment of registration guidelines for microbial and viral pesticides. The criteria for the evaluation of biological control organisms in the agricultural environment must be revised and the technical-legislative problems must be solved. A Commission in the European Community is currently examining the question.     

草地贪夜蛾对Bt玉米的抗性与治理对策思考

Bt玉米已在美洲广泛种植20多年,成功控制了欧洲玉米螟Ostrinia nubilalis、草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda等玉米重大害虫为害。然而,近年来相继报道在波多黎各、巴西、阿根廷因草地贪夜蛾产生抗性而导致一些Bt玉米抗虫性丧失。尤其是在热带和亚热带地区,多数Bt玉米品种商业化种植仅3年就丧失了对草地贪夜蛾的抗性。本文分析了草地贪夜蛾的生物学和生态学、对Bt杀虫蛋白抗性遗传特征和交互抗性特性、种群抗性基因频率等内因对抗性演化的影响,以及Bt玉米种植的生态环境、耕作栽培制度、Bt玉米种类、抗性治理策略实施情况等外部环境因素对抗性演化的影响。根据我国玉米种植的生态格局,提出了"整体布局,源头治理"的抗性治理对策。即在草地贪夜蛾周年繁殖区要谨慎种植Bt玉米,尤其是避免种植表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的Bt玉米,以避免源头产生抗性而危及温带玉米主产区。遵循差异化(不同杀虫作用机理)选择Bt玉米品种原则,制定精准抗性监测计划,以高剂量-庇护所为抗性治理基本策略,在Bt玉米资源有限的情况下,落实好庇护所尤为重要。