Long chain alkanes in silk extracts of maize genotypes with varying resistance to Fusarium graminearum.
The alkane content of the silks of nine maize genotypes was analyzed to investigate the role of silk wax in resistance to Fusarium graminearum. Silk samples were collected 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after silk emergence and divided into three sections: exposed silk, silk channel silk, and silk that is under the husk and overlying the kernels. Four major unbranched alkanes (C(25), C(27), C(29), and C(31)) and three isoalkanes (C(27i), C(29i), and C(31i)) were identified. Total alkane contents were highest in the exposed silk followed by the silk channel silk, with the lowest in the youngest silk closest to the kernels. In the silk channel and overlying kernel silks, the moderately resistant inbred CO272 consistently had the highest alkane content. None of the other inbreds with improved resistance had as high a level of alkanes as CO272, indicating that alkane content is not a major mechanism of resistance.
Miller
S Shea
SS
Central Experimental Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6. millers@agr.gc.ca
Reid
Lana M
LM
Butler
Gail
G
Winter
Susan P
SP
McGoldrick
Nadia J
NJ
D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis*; D005670:Fusarium; D005838:Genotype; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology
D000473:Alkanes; D010936:Plant Extracts