The maize mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase gene ZmMAPKKK45 is associated with multiple disease resistance.

ABSTRACT: Southern leaf blight (SLB), caused by the necrotrophic fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus, is a major foliar disease of maize (Zea mays) world-wide. A genome-wide association study was performed to dissect the genetic basis of SLB resistance in maize. Functional validation was performed using mutant and transgenic analyses. Molecular experiments provided preliminary insights into the underlying disease resistance mechanisms. Association analyses identified 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to SLB resistance, 13 of which overlapped with known quantitative resistance loci, highlighting 10 candidate genes. Functional studies confirmed ZmMAPKKK45, encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), is the causal gene at a resistance locus on chromosome 3. ZmMAPKK

SUBMITTER: Zhong T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12917477 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature