Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 12-21 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 12 Review and Progress Open Access Genome-wide Association Studies of Disease Resistance Genes in Maize IvyChen Cuixi Biotechnology Research Institute is now the Agricultural Research Center, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: Ivychen@hotmail.com Genomics and Applied Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0003 Received: 22 Nov., 2023 Accepted: 25 Dec., 2023 Published: 7 Jan., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen I., 2024, Genome-wide association studies of disease resistance genes in maize, Genomics and Applied Biology, 15(1): 12-21 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0003) Abstract Corn occupies a core position in global food production, but its yield and quality are seriously threatened by a variety of diseases. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), as a powerful genetic analysis tool, provides a new way to reveal the genetic basis of disease resistance traits in maize. This study reviews the application of GWAS in corn disease resistance research, from theoretical basis to practical cases, and discusses in detail the key disease resistance genes identified through GWAS and their potential applications in breeding. We review the principles of GWAS methods and the progress made in corn disease resistance research, including the successful identification of key genes or gene regions related to southern corn rust, corn leaf spot, and corn cob rot. Furthermore, challenges and future directions in translating these findings into practical breeding strategies are discussed. This study aims to provide scientific basis and new ideas for improving corn disease resistance and further promote the cultivation of highly disease-resistant corn varieties to meet global food security challenges. Keywords Maize (Zeamays); Genome-wide association studies (GWAS); Disease resistance; Breeding; Genetic studies Corn (Zea mays) is not only the second largest food crop in the world, but its role in global food security and sustainable agricultural development has become increasingly prominent. As an important source of food, feed and industrial raw materials, corn is critical to meeting the needs of the world's growing population. However, disease problems encountered during corn production, such as corn leaf spot, corn rust, and corn mosaic virus, have greatly limited the increase in yield and the assurance of quality. These diseases not only cause yield losses, but may also reduce the nutritional value and processing quality of corn, bringing a huge economic burden to agricultural production. Against this background, it is particularly important to research and develop corn varieties with high disease resistance. Although traditional breeding methods have made some progress in improving disease resistance, progress is slow and inefficient due to the complex genetic basis of disease resistance traits. In recent years, the development of genome -wide association studies (GWAS) technology has provided new ideas and methods for the study of corn disease resistance. By analyzing the association between genetic variation and trait expression, GWAS can quickly identify genes or genetic markers related to corn disease resistance across the entire genome. The application of this method not only deepens our understanding of the genetic mechanism of disease resistance in maize, but also provides effective molecular tools for breeding (Ren et al., 2022). This study illustrates the application of GWAS in the study of corn disease resistance and its impact on breeding practice. First, the article briefly introduces the background of corn disease resistance research and emphasizes the important role of GWAS in revealing the genetic basis of complex traits. Next, several key genes for corn disease resistance successfully identified through GWAS methods were discussed in detail, as well as the functions and mechanisms of these genes. These successful cases not only demonstrate the potential of GWAS in identifying corn disease resistance genes, but also provide valuable information for understanding disease resistance mechanisms. In addition, this study also explores ways to translate GWAS findings into practical breeding strategies, including the application of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and gene editing technologies. The combined use of these methods has greatly accelerated the development of highly disease-resistant corn varieties.
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