Targeting the Aspergillus flavus p2c gene through host-induced gene silencing reduces A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in transgenic maize.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects maize and produces aflatoxins. Using biocontrol or developing resistant cultivars to reduce aflatoxin contamination has only achieved limited success. Here, the A. flavus polygalacturonase gene (p2c) was targeted for suppression through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize. An RNAi vector carrying a portion of the p2c gene was constructed and transformed into maize B104. Thirteen out of fifteen independent transformation events were confirmed to contain p2c. The T2 generation kernels containing the p2c transgene had less aflatoxin than those without the transgene in six out of eleven events we examined. Homozygous T3 transgenic kernels from

SUBMITTER: Raruang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10203651 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature