Maize Disease Resistance

Abstract

This chapter presents a selective view of maize disease resistance to fungal diseases, highlighting some aspects of the subject that are currently of significant interest or that we feel have been under-investigated. These include:• The significant historical contributions to disease resistance genetics resulting from research in maize.• The current state of knowledge of the genetics of resistance to significant diseases in maize.• Systemic acquired resistance and induced systemic resistance in maize.• The prospects for the future, particularly for transgenically-derived disease resistance and for the elucidation of quantitative disease resistance.• The suitability of maize as a system for disease resistance studies.

An overview of the Ohio Corn Performance Test: Trends over 50 years

“…Plant standability suffers as a result of the feeding of pests such as western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera LeConte) (Reinders et al., 2022). Foliar diseases such as gray leaf spot caused by Cercospora zeae‐maydis , and northern corn leaf blight caused by Setosphaera turcica (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009; Miedaner & Juroszek, 2021), and ear and kernel rots, particularly Anthracnose , Diplodia ( Stenocarpella macrospora ), Gibberella , and Fusarium stalk rots, are strongly correlated with stalk lodging problems and stalk rots in Ohio (Mallowa et al., 2015; Ortez et al., 2024). To obtain maximum yields, hybrids should be selected for disease resistance or tolerance, particularly for those diseases that are most locally relevant.…”

An overview of the Ohio Corn Performance Test: Trends over 50 years

“…Plant standability suffers as a result of the feeding of pests such as western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera LeConte) (Reinders et al., 2022). Foliar diseases such as gray leaf spot caused by Cercospora zeae‐maydis , and northern corn leaf blight caused by Setosphaera turcica (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009; Miedaner & Juroszek, 2021), and ear and kernel rots, particularly Anthracnose , Diplodia ( Stenocarpella macrospora ), Gibberella , and Fusarium stalk rots, are strongly correlated with stalk lodging problems and stalk rots in Ohio (Mallowa et al., 2015; Ortez et al., 2024). To obtain maximum yields, hybrids should be selected for disease resistance or tolerance, particularly for those diseases that are most locally relevant.…”

Maize FERONIA ‐like receptor genes are involved in the response of multiple disease resistance in maize

“…NLB, NLS, ASR, and SLB are the main maize foliar fungal diseases worldwide (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009 ). NLB, NLS, and ASR are caused by the hemibiotrophic fungi S. turcica , B. zeicola , C. graminicola , respectively.…”

Expression of the inactive ZmMEK1 induces salicylic acid accumulation and salicylic acid‐dependent leaf senescence

“…Some reports described the function of SA in some cases in maize as different from that in Arabidopsis . For example, SA is a well‐known inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in Arabidopsis ; however, it seems to have little or no effect on pathogen resistance in maize (Balint‐Kurti and Johal ). As such, we explored the role of SA in maize leaf senescence and found exogenous SA accelerates the rate of dark‐induced maize leaf senescence (Figure ).…”

An overview of the Ohio Corn Performance Test: Trends over 50 years

“…Plant standability suffers as a result of the feeding of pests such as western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera LeConte) (Reinders et al., 2022). Foliar diseases such as gray leaf spot caused by Cercospora zeae‐maydis , and northern corn leaf blight caused by Setosphaera turcica (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009; Miedaner & Juroszek, 2021), and ear and kernel rots, particularly Anthracnose , Diplodia ( Stenocarpella macrospora ), Gibberella , and Fusarium stalk rots, are strongly correlated with stalk lodging problems and stalk rots in Ohio (Mallowa et al., 2015; Ortez et al., 2024). To obtain maximum yields, hybrids should be selected for disease resistance or tolerance, particularly for those diseases that are most locally relevant.…”

Maize FERONIA ‐like receptor genes are involved in the response of multiple disease resistance in maize

“…NLB, NLS, ASR, and SLB are the main maize foliar fungal diseases worldwide (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009 ). NLB, NLS, and ASR are caused by the hemibiotrophic fungi S. turcica , B. zeicola , C. graminicola , respectively.…”

Expression of the inactive ZmMEK1 induces salicylic acid accumulation and salicylic acid‐dependent leaf senescence

“…Some reports described the function of SA in some cases in maize as different from that in Arabidopsis . For example, SA is a well‐known inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in Arabidopsis ; however, it seems to have little or no effect on pathogen resistance in maize (Balint‐Kurti and Johal ). As such, we explored the role of SA in maize leaf senescence and found exogenous SA accelerates the rate of dark‐induced maize leaf senescence (Figure ).…”

An overview of the Ohio Corn Performance Test: Trends over 50 years

“…Plant standability suffers as a result of the feeding of pests such as western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera LeConte) (Reinders et al., 2022). Foliar diseases such as gray leaf spot caused by Cercospora zeae‐maydis , and northern corn leaf blight caused by Setosphaera turcica (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009; Miedaner & Juroszek, 2021), and ear and kernel rots, particularly Anthracnose , Diplodia ( Stenocarpella macrospora ), Gibberella , and Fusarium stalk rots, are strongly correlated with stalk lodging problems and stalk rots in Ohio (Mallowa et al., 2015; Ortez et al., 2024). To obtain maximum yields, hybrids should be selected for disease resistance or tolerance, particularly for those diseases that are most locally relevant.…”

Maize FERONIA ‐like receptor genes are involved in the response of multiple disease resistance in maize

“…NLB, NLS, ASR, and SLB are the main maize foliar fungal diseases worldwide (Balint‐Kurti & Johal, 2009 ). NLB, NLS, and ASR are caused by the hemibiotrophic fungi S. turcica , B. zeicola , C. graminicola , respectively.…”

Expression of the inactive ZmMEK1 induces salicylic acid accumulation and salicylic acid‐dependent leaf senescence

“…Some reports described the function of SA in some cases in maize as different from that in Arabidopsis . For example, SA is a well‐known inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in Arabidopsis ; however, it seems to have little or no effect on pathogen resistance in maize (Balint‐Kurti and Johal ). As such, we explored the role of SA in maize leaf senescence and found exogenous SA accelerates the rate of dark‐induced maize leaf senescence (Figure ).…”