EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact

SESSION 4: GENETICS OF HOSTS – PLANT RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM,
VARIETY DEVELOPMENT
P108 - Effect of phlobaphene accumulation in maize
kernel pericarp on Fusarium ear rot levels in
Lombardia
G. Venturini, G. Assante, L. Babazadeh, D. Salomoni, S. L. Toffolatti, R. Pilu,
A. Vercesi
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione Territorio Agroenergia (DISAA), Università
degli Studi di Milano,Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano-Italy
E-mail: giovanni.venturini@unimi.it
Fusarium ear rot (FER) is one the most serious maize fungal diseases especially
in Lombardia, the most important maize producer region in Italy. The main
aetiological agents of FER are Fusarium species belonging to Gibberella fujikuroi
species complex, in particular F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. FER usually
does not lead to significant yield losses, but its causal agents are well known
producers of mycotoxins such as fumonisins. Control measures in Italy consist of
one - two treatments against the European corn borer, but additional preventive
means are required in order to assure a more effective protection. Breeding
efforts have been undertaken to increase resistance to FER and in particular
phlobaphenes seem to be able to reduce the fumonisin accumulation in kernels.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pericarp phlobaphenes on FER
rating under field conditions. Two hybrids, one with P1-rr allele providing
pigmentation in pericarp and the other carrying P1-wr allele without phlobaphenes
accumulation in pericarp, were sown in 2011 and 2012 in four different locations
in Lombardia. The frequency and severity of FER, together with the incidence of
latent infections caused by G. fujikuroi clade and the fumonisin content, were
assessed in each genotype at the four field trials.
Significant but not univocal differences in FER frequency and severity between
the two genotypes were found only in 2012. Latent infections were significantly
more frequent on P1-wr genotype in two fields and on P1-rr in the same location
for two years. A similar distribution pattern was also found in the fumonisin level.
Statistical analysis showed that FER indexes are positively correlated with both
latent infections and fumonisin accumulation and significantly influenced not only
by the presence of phlobaphenes, but also by the field location and the year of
cultivation
Keywords: Maize, Phlobaphenes, Fusarium ear rot, Gibberella fujikuroi clade
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