Identification of Resistance of Maize Germplasm Resources to Disease
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 594
Special Issue Editors
Interests: maize; germplasm resources; fungal disease; resistance identification; resistance genes; gene mapping; maize–pathogen interactions
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop widely utilized for food, feed, industrial raw material, and energy. However, maize yield and quality are seriously threatened by numerous diseases caused by diverse pathogens. The major maize diseases include northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), southern corn rust (SCR), grey leaf spot (GLS), Curvularia leaf spot, white spot, stalk rot, ear rot, head smut, common smut, banded leaf, and sheath blight, etc. These diseases, which can occur year-round or intermittently in different ecological zones, often lead to substantial economic losses. Developing maize cultivars with broad resistance to multiple diseases through breeding is the most effective approach for combating diseases. The identification of resistant maize germplasm and discovery of resistance genes are major steps toward this goal. Maize germplasm resources, including wild relatives, landrace, traditional varieties, and farmer’s varieties, encompass a vast array of genetic variations that could be served as the primary gene pool for enhancing maize resistance and genetic improvement.
The primary objective of this Special Issue is to publish innovative research, short communications, and comprehensive review articles focusing on, but not limited to: the precise characterization of maize germplasm for disease resistance via the application of phenomics, genomics, or molecular markers; the development and utilization of novel molecular markers for resistance breeding; or comparative studies on different molecular marker systems associated with maize diseases resistance to assess the genetic structure of maize germplasm or populations. Maize–pathogen interactions and resistance gene mining and cloning are also within the scope of this Special Issue.
Dr. Canxing Duan
Dr. Yanyong Cao
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- maize germplasm
- maize disease
- resistance identification
- resistance genes
- molecular markers
- maize–microbe interactions
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