title: Assessing pigmented pericarp of maize kernels as possible source of resistance to fusarium ear rot, Fusarium spp. infection and fumonisin accumulation.
abstract: One of the purposes of maize genetic improvement is the research of genotypes resistant to fusarium ear rot (FER) and fumonisin accumulation. Flavonoids in the pericarp of the kernels are considered particularly able to reduce the fumonisin accumulation (FUM). The aim of this field study was to assess the effect of flavonoids, associated with anti-insect protection and Fusarium verticillioides inoculation, on FER symptoms and fumonisin contamination in maize kernels. Two isogenic hybrids, one having pigmentation in the pericarp (P1-rr) and the other without it (P1-wr), were compared. P1-rr showed lower values of FER symptoms and FUM contamination than P1-wr only if the anti-insect protection and the F. verticillioides inoculations were applied in combination. Fusarium spp. kernel infection was not influenced by the presence of flavonoids in the pericarp. Artificial F. verticillioides inoculation was more effective than anti-insect protection in enhancing the inhibition activity of flavonoids toward FUM contamination. The interactions between FUM contamination levels and FER ratings were better modeled in the pigmented hybrid than in the unpigmented one. The variable role that the pigment played in kernel defense against FER and FUM indicates that flavonoids alone may not be completely effective in the resistance of fumonisin contamination in maize.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.venturini@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babazadeh
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casati
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pilu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salomoni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Toffolatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000378:metabolism; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D007313:Insecta; D010858:Pigmentation; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D037341:Fumonisins
keywords: Fumonisins; Fusarium verticillioides; Kernel pericarp; Zea mays