Use of Classical and Molecular Technologies For Developing Aflatoxin Resistance in Crops

<p>Objective 1. Develop aflatoxin-resistant corn with enhanced resistance traits against other mycotoxins and drought tolerance. Identify gene regulatory factors, networks and pathways related to resistance-associated proteins (RAPs). These data are then transferred to others to assist in selection by marker-assisted breeding. Objective 2. Identify resistance associated protein (RAPs) genes from corn and cotton using transcriptomic analyses of the Aspergillus flavus-host plant interaction and evaluate for control of fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination. Objective 3. Develop and evaluate transgenic corn and cotton containing over-expressed identified RAP genes (Objectives 1 and 2) or with RNA interference (RNAi)-based silencing of Aspergillus flavus genes critical to growth and aflatoxin production. Objective 4. Advance and license the rapid, non-destructive hyperspectral imaging technology; develop and evaluate instruments suitable for different user platforms.</p>