Detection of multi-disease resistant genes on corn leaves

Scientists from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said they have just discovered a multi-disease resistant gene called GST that is resistant to all three common diseases found on corn leaves.

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Specifically, three common diseases on corn leaves all over the world are southern leaf blight, northern blight and leaf spot disease. Typically, in the United States, maize is mostly affected by northern blight and leaf spot disease are two common diseases.

Therefore, researchers have studied 300 corn varieties from all over the world to ensure genetic diversity. Research results show that no corn variety is completely resistant to these diseases. However, some other corn varieties are resistant to extreme weather conditions.

GST gene can resist multiple diseases on corn leaves.

In addition, the researchers found that 'corn lines' could resist all three diseases to determine disease resistance genes. Specifically, they tested the resistant maize varieties and found that if a corn variety were resistant to one of the three diseases, it would be resistant to the other two diseases.

To determine the genome sequences associated with disease-resistant variants, the researchers applied statistical analysis techniques called 'population maps'.

According to researcher Balint-Kurti, scientists have found a strong correlation, not only resistant to a disease but resistant to the other two diseases. Later, they hypothesized that some genes were resistant to all three diseases and many other diseases by one gene could withstand multiple diseases.

This gene was named glutathione S-transferase (GST) by researchers . This is one of the families of genes known to play a role in controlling cellular impairment due to too many oxygen atoms on leaves and releasing toxins on leaves. Both of these functions are resistant to multiple diseases on corn leaves.