LAUSR

Gibberella ear rot (GER) caused by Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph Gibberella zeae) is one of the most devastating maize diseases that reducing grain yield and quality worldwide. Utilization of host genetic resistance has become one of the most suitable strategy to control GER. In this study, a set of 246 diverse inbred lines derived from the intermated B73 × Mo17 doubled haploid population (IBM Syn10 DH) were used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to GER. Meanwhile, a GradedPool-Seq (GPS) appoach was performed to identify genomic variations involving in GER resistance. Using artificial inoculation across multiple environments, GER severity of the population was observed with wide phenotypic variation. Based on the linkage mapping, a total of 14 resistant QTLs were detected, accounting for 5.11-14.87% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. In GPS analysis, five significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated GER resistance were identified. Combining QTL mapping and GPS analysis, a peak-value SNP on chromosome 4 from GPS was overlapped with the QTL qGER4.2, suggesting that the co-localized region could be the most possible target location conferring resistance to GER. Subsequently, seven candidate genes were identified within the peak SNP, linking to GER resistance. These findings are useful for exploration the complicated genetic variations in maize GER resistance. The genomic regions and genes identified herein provide a list of candidate targets for further investigation, in addition to the combined strategy that can be used for quantitative traits in plant species.