A maizewin protein confers enhanced antiinsect and antifungal resistance when the gene is transgenically expressed in maize callus

Abstract Maize is a crop of worldwide importance, but insects and plant pathogens limit sustainable production. The development of maize varieties with improved resistance will be facilitated by identification of relevant resistance alleles through appropriate biological assays. A barwin-like gene (which we call maizewin) located in a QTL for Fusarium resistance annotated such that potential glucanase and chitinase activity could occur in the translated protein, was cloned from an ear rot resistant inbred and transgenically expressed in maize callus. Although limited increases in insect resistance occurred in the transgenic callus material containing the maizewin gene compared to a GUS control gene, resistance to Fusarium pathogens was common and associated with increased glucanase activity. The gene appeared to produce a protein with glucanase and chitosanase activity, consistent with an antifungal role. The allele that produces the functional resistant protein may be relatively uncommon in maize germplasm. Incorporation of a functional maizewin allele into susceptible germplasm should help increase production by contributing to control of both insect pests and plant pathogens.