The application of atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains in maize fields has been shown to be an effective strategy for controlling contamination of aflatoxins, potent carcinogens produced by the fungus. This study monitored the expression levels of 18 defense genes against toxigenic and atoxigenic A. flavus strains in developing maize kernels over a time course of 96 h after inoculation. A stronger upregulation of genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins, oxidative stress-related proteins, transcriptional factors and lipoxygenases were observed in response to the atoxigenic strain. On the other side, this strain showed a significant enhanced growth in the later stages of infection, measured as copy number of the constitutive calmodulin gene. These results suggest that overexpression of maize-defense-associated genes observed in response to the atoxigenic strain could contribute to an aflatoxin reduction. The identification of genes significantly affecting the resistance to A. flavus or aflatoxin accumulation would accelerate the development of resistant cultivars.

Lanubile, A., Maschietto, V., Battilani, P., Marocco, A., Infection with toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus induces different transcriptional signatures in maize kernels, <<JOURNAL OF PLANT INTERACTIONS>>, 2017; 12 (1): 21-30. [doi:10.1080/17429145.2016.1274062] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/93505]

Infection with toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus induces different transcriptional signatures in maize kernels

Lanubile, Alessandra
Primo
;
Maschietto, Valentina
Secondo
;
Battilani, Paola
Penultimo
;
Marocco, Adriano
Ultimo
2017

Abstract

The application of atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains in maize fields has been shown to be an effective strategy for controlling contamination of aflatoxins, potent carcinogens produced by the fungus. This study monitored the expression levels of 18 defense genes against toxigenic and atoxigenic A. flavus strains in developing maize kernels over a time course of 96 h after inoculation. A stronger upregulation of genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins, oxidative stress-related proteins, transcriptional factors and lipoxygenases were observed in response to the atoxigenic strain. On the other side, this strain showed a significant enhanced growth in the later stages of infection, measured as copy number of the constitutive calmodulin gene. These results suggest that overexpression of maize-defense-associated genes observed in response to the atoxigenic strain could contribute to an aflatoxin reduction. The identification of genes significantly affecting the resistance to A. flavus or aflatoxin accumulation would accelerate the development of resistant cultivars.
2017
Inglese
Lanubile, A., Maschietto, V., Battilani, P., Marocco, A., Infection with toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus induces different transcriptional signatures in maize kernels, <<JOURNAL OF PLANT INTERACTIONS>>, 2017; 12 (1): 21-30. [doi:10.1080/17429145.2016.1274062] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/93505]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/93505
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
social impact