CORRELATION OF KERNEL (E)-FERULIC ACID CONTENT OF MAIZE WITH RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM-GRAMINEARUM

The relationship between (E)-ferulic acid content in kernels of 19 inbreds of maize (Zea mays), chosen to represent a taxonomic and latitudinal series showing variation, and resistance to infection by Fusarium graminearum was investigated. A negative, significant correlation (1988: r = -0.68, P = 0.002, and n = 57; 1991: r = 0.71, P = 0.002, and n = 57) was found between the amount of ear rot observed in field trials and the amount of (E)-ferulic acid detected in kernels by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Furthermore, fungal growth in vitro was greatly decreased when pure (E)-ferulic acid was added to artificial media; the effective concentration for 50% inhibition of growth (EC50) was 0.65 mg/g. Based on the results of the present study, conventional breeding programs aimed at attaining maize germ plasm resistant to F. graminearum should incorporate genotypes of maize containing high concentrations of kernel (E)-ferulic acid.