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<OL> <LI> Determine biotic and abiotic factors that increase vulnerability of corn to A. flavus
infection and aflatoxin accumulation. <LI>Identify corn germplasm with resistance to A.
flavus infection, aflatoxin accumulation, and insect damage, and identify proteins,
genes, and molecular markers associated with resistance. <LI>Enhance corn germplasm with
resistance to aflatoxin contamination and insect damage and develop and release corn
germplasm lines as sources of resistance.
Determine role of drought stress in predisposing corn to A. flavus infection and
subsequent aflatoxin accumulation in the field. Investigate the effects of drought
and heat stress in a controlled environment. Determine associations between
aflatoxin contamination of corn and environmental stresses from historical weather
data. Compare the relative competitiveness of A. flavus with Fusarium verticilliodes
in aflatoxin resistant hybrids and insect resistant hybrids under different
environmental conditions. Evaluate the effectiveness of insect resistance in
reducing aflatoxin contamination. Identify corn germplasm with resistance to A.
flavus/aflatoxin. Identify germplasm with resistance to southwestern corn borer,
fall armyworm, and corn earworm. Determine whether a granular inoculation system can
be used to uniformly and efficiently infect corn genotypes with toxigenic A. flavus
strains and how these applications of A. flavus to the soil affect the naturally
occurring A. Flavus populations. Determine whether an A. flavus strain that
expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be used to measure resistance in
developing corn ears to fungal growth and provide additional information on the
infection process. Identify proteins, genes, and molecular markers associated with
resistance to A. flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation. Identify proteins,
genes, and QTL associated with insect resistance. Enhance corn germplasm with
resistance to A. flavus/aflatoxin using conventional plant breeding methods. Enhance
germlasm with resistance to southwestern corn borer, fall armyworm, and corn earworm.