Revealing candidate genes for maize resistance against Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) via GWAS

Maize crops worldwide suffer substantial losses every year due to damage caused by pests, such as the armyworm. Secondary metabolites, specialized complex molecules synthesized by plants, can act as a defense mechanism against insects. The production of secondary metabolites can vary widely between maize populations, providing an opportunity to study the genes encoding for these compounds by comparing metabolic profiles across various maize inbred lines with their genetic differences. HPLC and mass spectroscopy can be used to generate lists of mass features present in each sample, and these features can be correlated with the relative caterpillar resistance between the different maize lines. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on a diverse panel of maize plants using both caterpillar feeding performance and metabolomic profiles as traits to identify candidate genes for resistance against armyworms. This study reveals several potential genes associated with armyworm resistance in maize, providing a path forward for further research. Once potential genes are found, mutant lines can be generated to investigate their functions. Eventually, genetically modified maize plants may be developed with increased resistance against pests to reduce agricultural losses.

Through my 10 weeks at the BTI I gained invaluable skills and knowledge about plant science, metabolomics, and conducting research as a whole. Under the guidance of my mentor Guillermo Jimenez I learned a variety of new skills such as preparing and running samples through HPLC, processing of mass spectroscopy data and statistical analysis, as well as effective experimental design. The insights of those in the Jander lab as well as many others, the informative seminars, and overall immersion into plant science I experienced gave me a much clearer understanding of the positive impact that can be made with scientific research. My experiences here have influenced my decision to pursue a PhD after my undergraduate studies and hopefully secure a career in research.