Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a main cereal crop for livestock and human consumption worldwide. Maize production must increase by 70 % by 2050 to feed the growing population. However, the crop has many challenges, including its suitability for aflatoxigenic fungus (Aspergillus flavus). The present study in...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| author | Seuri Losieki Mollel Liberatus Dominick Lyimo Rashid Suleiman |
| author_facet | Seuri Losieki Mollel Liberatus Dominick Lyimo Rashid Suleiman |
| author_sort | Seuri Losieki Mollel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maize (Zea mays L.) is a main cereal crop for livestock and human consumption worldwide. Maize production must increase by 70 % by 2050 to feed the growing population. However, the crop has many challenges, including its suitability for aflatoxigenic fungus (Aspergillus flavus). The present study investigated the aflatoxigenic levels of twenty (20) maize cultivars using the lab-based kernel screening assay. The results revealed that the cultivar MHL517 (Provitamin A) had no detectable levels of aflatoxins (<nd) and a low colonization rate compared to the best resistance checks (RC212741 and RC 21166) used. The results reveal that Aflatoxin B1 and total Aflatoxin (TA) levels were high in Genotype SC173531 and TO 104 with (AFB1 = 714.3 µg/kg, TA = 662.6 µg/kg) and (AFB1 = 681.6 µg/kg, TA = 576.6 µg/kg), respectively, indicating its susceptibility to A. flavus. A PCR-based detection technique revealed the presence of the resistance TC23674 gene in resistant cultivars, including the resistant check inbred lines, that were not found in susceptible cultivars. The findings showed that maize grain exhibiting greater proVA and beta carotene concentrations had lower aflatoxin contamination than grain exhibiting lower carotenoid concentrations. The MHL517 cultivar was determined to be the most promising among the examined cultivars, and the study proposed that it may be used in commercial hybrids to develop fungal-resistant cultivars. Therefore, a higher level of proVA and beta carotene in maize can be a successful first line of defense against aflatoxin contamination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e24e41e85c842948de6f8da60f04c4b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2468-2276 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Scientific African |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e24e41e85c842948de6f8da60f04c4b2025-08-20T02:59:16ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762025-06-0128e0262210.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02622Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assaySeuri Losieki Mollel0Liberatus Dominick Lyimo1Rashid Suleiman2Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3005, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI, Selian Centre, PO Box 6024, Arusha, TanzaniaDepartment of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3005, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Corresponding author.Department of Food Science and Agro-processing, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3006, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, TanzaniaMaize (Zea mays L.) is a main cereal crop for livestock and human consumption worldwide. Maize production must increase by 70 % by 2050 to feed the growing population. However, the crop has many challenges, including its suitability for aflatoxigenic fungus (Aspergillus flavus). The present study investigated the aflatoxigenic levels of twenty (20) maize cultivars using the lab-based kernel screening assay. The results revealed that the cultivar MHL517 (Provitamin A) had no detectable levels of aflatoxins (<nd) and a low colonization rate compared to the best resistance checks (RC212741 and RC 21166) used. The results reveal that Aflatoxin B1 and total Aflatoxin (TA) levels were high in Genotype SC173531 and TO 104 with (AFB1 = 714.3 µg/kg, TA = 662.6 µg/kg) and (AFB1 = 681.6 µg/kg, TA = 576.6 µg/kg), respectively, indicating its susceptibility to A. flavus. A PCR-based detection technique revealed the presence of the resistance TC23674 gene in resistant cultivars, including the resistant check inbred lines, that were not found in susceptible cultivars. The findings showed that maize grain exhibiting greater proVA and beta carotene concentrations had lower aflatoxin contamination than grain exhibiting lower carotenoid concentrations. The MHL517 cultivar was determined to be the most promising among the examined cultivars, and the study proposed that it may be used in commercial hybrids to develop fungal-resistant cultivars. Therefore, a higher level of proVA and beta carotene in maize can be a successful first line of defense against aflatoxin contamination.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625000924AflatoxinBeta caroteneMaize breedingKernel screening assay ProvA |
| spellingShingle | Seuri Losieki Mollel Liberatus Dominick Lyimo Rashid Suleiman Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay Scientific African Aflatoxin Beta carotene Maize breeding Kernel screening assay ProvA |
| title | Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| title_full | Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| title_fullStr | Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| title_short | Identification of sources of resistance against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| title_sort | identification of sources of resistance against aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize cultivars using molecular and kernel screening assay |
| topic | Aflatoxin Beta carotene Maize breeding Kernel screening assay ProvA |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625000924 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seurilosiekimollel identificationofsourcesofresistanceagainstaspergillusflavusandaflatoxincontaminationinmaizecultivarsusingmolecularandkernelscreeningassay AT liberatusdominicklyimo identificationofsourcesofresistanceagainstaspergillusflavusandaflatoxincontaminationinmaizecultivarsusingmolecularandkernelscreeningassay AT rashidsuleiman identificationofsourcesofresistanceagainstaspergillusflavusandaflatoxincontaminationinmaizecultivarsusingmolecularandkernelscreeningassay |