Identification of Resistance to Pythium Root Rot in Maize

Pythium root rot, predominantly caused by species within the genera Pythium and Globisporangium, affects a wide range of crops, including maize. Effective management of this disease often combines soil management, fungicides, and biological controls to mitigate its impact. In the American Midwest, the most common causal agent of maize root rot is Globisporangium ultimum var. ultimum, which thrives in cool, moist soils and can cause substantial crop damage. Despite some success in identifying resistance genes in maize against other pathogens, no resistance has yet been identified for the causal agents of Pythium root rot. In this study, a diverse panel of maize inbred lines were examined with multiple species of causal agents and under different conditions. A high-throughput in vitro screening method was developed, as well as protocols for screening multiple species in hot and cold greenhouse settings. These protocols found evidence that some lines have potential mechanisms or broad range resistance or tolerance to Globisporangium infection.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Crop Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hall, Harrison Peirce

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mideros, Santiago

• Pythium
• Globisporangium
• Root Rot
• Maize
• Resistance
• Flooding
• Oomycete
• Corn

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Harrison Hall

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129248

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129248