African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 557-562, December 2003

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2003 Academic Journals

Minireview

Using biotechnology to enhance host resistance to aflatoxin contamination of corn

Robert L. Brown¹*, Zhi-Yuan Chen², Abebe Menkir³, and Thomas E. Cleveland¹

¹Southern Regional Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70179.

²Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

³International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. Phone: 504-286-4359. Fax: 504-286-4419. E-mail: rbrown@srrc.ars.usda.gov.

Accepted 24 November 2003

Host resistance is the most widely explored strategy for eliminating aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus flavus. Breeding strategies for developing resistant corn germplasm have been enhanced by the development of new screening tools for field inoculation and for laboratory screening. RFLP analysis of corn populations has highlighted the possibility that different resistance traits can be successfully pyramided into agronomically useful germplasm, while proteomics has impacted the identification of proteins associated with resistance (RAPs). The identification of RAPs has also been enhanced by the discovery of near-isogenic corn lines in progeny generated in a West African breeding program. The characterization of genes of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway has provided a foundation for a genomics investigation aimed at understanding the biochemical function and genetic regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Successful inhibition of aflatoxin elaboration may require not only the action of antifungal compounds, but of compounds that block biosynthesis of toxins as well.