ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management

Research on antifungal proteins and other mechanisms that provide the biochemical basis for hostplant resistance to stalk rot and grain molds is reviewed in this paper. Stalk rot caused by Fusarium
species leads to substantial yield loss due to poor grain filling and/or lodging. A transgenic sorghum
expressing high levels of chitinase exhibited less stalk rot development when exposed to conidia of
F. thapsinum. Grain mold of sorghum is associated with warm humid environments and results
from colonization by several fungi (F. thapsinum, Curvularia lunata, and Alternaria alternata) of
the developing caryopsis. The roles of several biochemical mechanisms (tannins, phenolic compounds,
red pericarp, proteins, hard endosperm, and antifungal proteins) on grain mold resistance are
discussed. Resistance mechanisms related to these compounds appear to be additive, and pyramiding
of genes is a feasible approach to limit grain deterioration. Several experimental approaches are
proposed to extend current findings.