Genomics of Fungal Disease Resistance

Abstract

Fungal diseases are prevalent on maize, for which resistance is controlled by numerous genes where sequence variation more typically gives rise to quantitative rather than qualitative phenotypes. Genomics is facilitating advances in genetics and systems biology while opening the door for convergence between the two. As this is leading to new perspectives about the nature of functionality versus variability during pathogenesis, changes may be afoot in how maize breeders handle the challenge of crop protection.