Monday, November 5, 2007
59-2

Genetic Dissection of Quantitative Disease Resistance in Maize Using Near-Isogenic Lines.

John Zwonitzer1, David Bubeck2, Dinakar Bhattramakki3, Sherry Flint-Garcia4, James Holland, Major Goodman5, and Peter Balint-Kurti6. (1) Gardner Hall No. 2518, North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University/USDA-ARS, Campus Box 7616, Raleigh, NC 27695, (2) PO Box 1004, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Pioneer HI-Bred Int'l, 7300 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA 50131-1004, (3) Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc, Dallas Center, IA 50063, (4) USDA-ARS, Plant Genetics Research Unit, Columbia, MO 65211, (5) PO Box 7620, North Carolina State University, Box 7620, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, (6) USDA-ARS, Deptartment of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695

Southern Leaf Blight (SLB) and Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) are important foliar pathogens of maize. The commonly used stiff stalk line B73 is susceptible to SLB, while the sister lines NC250 and NC250A, lines derived from crosses between temperate and tropical germplasm, show extremely high resistance. Two highly SLB-resistant B73 near-isogenic sister lines, NC292 and NC330, were derived from a B73 x NC250 cross followed by several backcrosses to B73 under recurrent selection for SLB resistance. A whole genome scan was undertaken to identify NC250 introgressions in NC292 and NC330 which are ³90% B73-like. Nine NC250 introgressions were identified, with some corresponding to regions where QTL were identified in the B73 x NC250A F2:3 population. Determining the role each of the identified introgressions plays in SLB resistance is important. Lines with single or double NC250 introgressions were generated via additional backcrossing to B73. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) homozygous for single or double NC250 introgressions were selected through detailed genotyping in the BC1F1 and BC1F2 generations, and BC1F3 lines were phenotyped in a SLB field nursery. BC1F3 lines containing a NC250 introgression within the region encompassed by SSR markers phi099 and umc1025 on chromosome 3 were often among some of the most SLB resistant lines. A SLB QTL was identified in this region in this and other QTL studies. NC250 introgressions located within markers umc2246 and umc2363 on chromosome 2 and markers bnlg2305 and umc2307 on chromosome 5 were often associated with the more resistant lines. Additionally, a set of 89 BC3F2:3 NILs derived from a B73 x Tx303 cross, carrying assorted Tx303 introgressions in a B73 background, were selected and screened for GLS resistance. Results indicate that a Tx303 introgression on the distal end of the short arm of chromosome 1 is highly correlated with increased GLS susceptibility.