Abstract
Northern corn leaf blight is a major fungal disease hindering maize production worldwide. Among the various strategies of disease management, the deployment of host plant resistance is the most economic means to mitigate the yield losses, as it is cost-effective and durable. In this study, we performed the genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis in a set of 336 maize inbred lines. The experimental material was evaluated for northern corn leaf blight disease response across two seasons during the rainy seasons of 2023 and 2024. The ANOVA results and estimates of genetic variability parameters indicated the existence of a substantial amount of genetic variability. High heritability and high genetic advance as percent mean suggested the presence of additive genetic effects in controlling the disease response. GWAS analysis was performed employing GLM, MLM, CMLM, MLMM, FarmCPU and BLINK. The results from GWAS identified 74 marker associations from GLM and FarmCPU models. The QTN S1_7356398, located on chromosome 1, identified from the GLM model, explained 12.12 percent of phenotypic variation. Another QTN S2_51098833 located on chromosome 2, identified from the FarmCPU model, explained 6.14 percent variation. Remaining associations explained lesser PVE, suggesting the quantitative inheritance of NCLB resistance. Candidate gene identification was performed by keeping B73 as a reference genome. The identified QTNs from the current study were found to be located in annotated genes with functional domains implicated in defence mechanisms in maize and other crops. Many candidate genes, including chitinase, putative serine/threonine protein kinase, and aldehyde oxygenase, were identified and found to play a crucial role in plant defence mechanisms against several biotic and abiotic stresses. © 2025 by the authors.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Maize lines showed substantial genetic variability for northern corn leaf blight response.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The ANOVA results and estimates of genetic variability parameters indicated the existence of a substantial amount of genetic variability.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
High heritability and genetic advance suggested additive genetic control of disease response.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“High heritability and high genetic advance as percent mean suggested the presence of additive genetic effects in controlling the disease response.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
GWAS found 74 marker associations using GLM and FarmCPU.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results from GWAS identified 74 marker associations from GLM and FarmCPU models.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
QTN S1_7356398 on chromosome 1 explained 12.12 percent of phenotypic variation.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The QTN S1_7356398, located on chromosome 1, identified from the GLM model, explained 12.12 percent of phenotypic variation.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
QTN S2_51098833 on chromosome 2 explained 6.14 percent variation.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Another QTN S2_51098833 located on chromosome 2, identified from the FarmCPU model, explained 6.14 percent variation.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
Remaining associations had lower explained variation, suggesting quantitative NCLB resistance.
- Material
- maize inbred linese1
- Outcome
- PVEe0
- Direction
- lessere0
- Qualifier
- quantitative inheritance of NCLB resistancee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Remaining associations explained lesser PVE, suggesting the quantitative inheritance of NCLB resistance.”
e1“336 maize inbred lines”
Claim · model-written summary
Identified QTNs lay in annotated genes with defense-related domains.
- Gene
- QTNse0
- Outcome
- located in annotated genes with functional domains implicated in defence mechanismse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The identified QTNs from the current study were found to be located in annotated genes with functional domains implicated in defence mechanisms in maize and other crops.”
Claim · model-written summary
Candidate genes including chitinase, putative serine/threonine protein kinase, and aldehyde oxygenase were identified.
- Gene
- chitinase, putative serine/threonine protein kinase, and aldehyde oxygenasee0
- Outcome
- candidate genese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Many candidate genes, including chitinase, putative serine/threonine protein kinase, and aldehyde oxygenase, were identified and found to play a crucial role in plant defence mechanisms against several biotic and abiotic stresses.”
e1“defence mechanisms in maize”