Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Genetic Basis of Maize Resistance to Multiple-Insect Pests: Integrated Genome-Wide Comparative Mapping and Candidate Gene Prioritization

Version 1 : Received: 19 May 2020 / Approved: 21 May 2020 / Online: 21 May 2020 (08:24:54 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 31 May 2020 / Approved: 1 June 2020 / Online: 1 June 2020 (02:19:01 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Badji, A.; Kwemoi, D.B.; Machida, L.; Okii, D.; Mwila, N.; Agbahoungba, S.; Kumi, F.; Ibanda, A.; Bararyenya, A.; Solemanegy, M.; Odong, T.; Wasswa, P.; Otim, M.; Asea, G.; Ochwo-Ssemakula, M.; Talwana, H.; Kyamanywa, S.; Rubaihayo, P. Genetic Basis of Maize Resistance to Multiple Insect Pests: Integrated Genome-Wide Comparative Mapping and Candidate Gene Prioritization. Genes 2020, 11, 689. Badji, A.; Kwemoi, D.B.; Machida, L.; Okii, D.; Mwila, N.; Agbahoungba, S.; Kumi, F.; Ibanda, A.; Bararyenya, A.; Solemanegy, M.; Odong, T.; Wasswa, P.; Otim, M.; Asea, G.; Ochwo-Ssemakula, M.; Talwana, H.; Kyamanywa, S.; Rubaihayo, P. Genetic Basis of Maize Resistance to Multiple Insect Pests: Integrated Genome-Wide Comparative Mapping and Candidate Gene Prioritization. Genes 2020, 11, 689.

Abstract

Several herbivores feed on maize in field and storage setups making the development of multiple-insect resistance a critical breeding target. In this study, an association mapping panel of 341 tropical maize lines was evaluated in three field environments for resistance to FAW whilst bulked grains were subjected to MW bioassay, genotyped with Diversity Array Technologies single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers. A multi-locus genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed 62 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with FAW and MW resistance traits on all 10 maize chromosomes, of which, 47 and 31 were discovered at stringent Bonferroni genome-wide significance level of 0.05 and 0.01, respectively, and located within or close to multiple-insect resistance genomic regions (MIRGRs) concerning FAW, SB, and MW. Sixteen QTNs influenced multiple-traits of which six were associated with resistance to both FAW and MW suggesting a pleiotropic genetic control. Functional prioritization of candidate genes (CGs) located within 10-30kb of the QTNs revealed 64 putative GWAS-based CGs (GbCGs) showing evidence of involvement in plant defense mechanisms. Only one GbCG was associated with each of five of the six combined-resistance QTNs, thus, reinforcing the pleiotropy hypothesis. In addition, through In-silico co-functional network inferences, an additional 107 Network-based CGs (NbCGs), biologically connected to the 64 GbCGs, differentially expressed under biotic or abiotic stress were revealed within MIRGRs. The provided multiple-insect resistance physical map should contribute to the development of combined-insect resistance in maize.

Keywords

combined insect-resistance; QTNs; functional prioritization; fall armyworm; maize weevil; stem borers

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Plant Sciences

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