Scientists in Brazil have used genomic selection techniques to identify varieties of corn that are more productive and more resistant to fungus that can be harmful to humans.
Researchers at the Embrapa Corn and Sorghum breeding program evaluated almost 400 hybrid corn varieties to find ones that were likely to have lower incidence of fumosins — a microorganism that produces mycotoxins, which have been associated with causing cancer in humans and animals.
Over the course of three years, the team identified a selection of tropical corn genotypes that had had alleles resistant to the fungus that causes fusariosis, Fusarium verticillioides Nirenberg.
They also utilised genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) to identify hybrids that produced higher yields.
In research published by Embrapa, the team said they found 20 ‘superior hybrids’ that showed a genetic gain of 20.8% for the reduction of fumonisin levels and an increase of 35.3% in grain productivity.
The next step is to develop cultivars that bring the two characteristics together so that farmers can benefit from the improvements in the field.
“This research is pioneering in Brazil and genomic selection works that combine resistance to grain diseases and productivity are rare in literature,” the researchers wrote.
Chemical control of fungi that cause rot in corn kernels is extremely difficult, as the cob’s structure protects the fungi from pesticides, they added.
“Therefore, the development of cultivars with higher levels of genetic resistance to these pathogens is extremely relevant.
“Precisely for this reason, at Embrapa Corn and Sorghum, our improvement program seeks to develop productive hybrids that present higher levels of resistance to fungi that cause rot and produce mycotoxins in grains, including, mainly, fumonisins,” the researchers said.
