Host-Induced Gene Silencing of the <i>Aspergillus flavus O</i>-Methyl Transferase Gene Enhanced Maize Aflatoxin Resistance.

ABSTRACT: Maize is one of the major crops that are susceptible to Aspergillus flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination, which poses a serious health threat to humans and domestic animals. Here, an RNA interference (RNAi) approach called Host-Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) was employed to suppress the O-methyl transferase gene (omtA, also called aflP), a key gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. An RNAi vector carrying part of the omtA gene was introduced into the B104 maize line. Among the six transformation events that were positive for containing the omtA transgene, OmtA-6 and OmtA-10 were self-pollinated from T1 to T4, and OmtA-7 and OmtA-12 to the T6 generation. These four lines showed at least an 81.3% reduction in aflatoxin accumulatio

SUBMITTER: Omolehin O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11769010 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature