Maize resistance to Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisin reduction, a shared approach

Mycotoxins represent the main health risk from food, in terms of exposure and severity of chronic disease, especially cancer. Maize is a focus crop in this context, being susceptible to several fungi, co-existing on the ears in several environments and meteorological conditions. The main concern in northern Italy regards Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus, fumonisin and aflatoxin producers, respectively. A multifaceted approach was followed from 2000 to prevent grain contamination in field, including breeding for resistance with focus on F. verticillioides, and biocontrol with atoxigenic strains of A. flavus for aflatoxin reduction. A wide range of maize lines was screened by artificial inoculation, allowing to select those more promising for possible commercial development. Several genomic approaches (microarrays, RNASeq, GBS) were used in order to understand the molecular basis of the maize resistance and to identify QTLs for resistance. A consolidated collaboration with IITA-Nigeria is in force. This country faces the same mycotoxin problems, but with more severe contamination and related risks for the population. Few promising lines, potentially suitable for growing in Africa, were shared with IITA. Final data are not yet available but this is an important contribute in knowledge sharing to jointly reduce the human and animal exposure to mycotoxins.