Preprint maps genetic architecture of maize yellow mosaic virus resistance in a 282-line diversity panel

A bioRxiv preprint reports a characterisation of resistance to maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV) across the Goodman 282 maize diversity panel, a well-established collection used to study the genetic basis of agriculturally important traits in corn.

MaYMV is described by the authors as an emerging polerovirus — a family of plant viruses transmitted by aphids — affecting maize and other grass species. Its broad host range and transmission by multiple aphid species make conventional management approaches such as crop rotation, pesticide application, and weed control likely to be insufficient, the authors argue, pointing to the development of resistant cultivars as the more practical long-term strategy.

The study quantified leaf reddening symptoms, which are associated with MaYMV infection, and used diagnostic approaches to assess infection status and obtain a semi-quantitative measure of virus titre across the panel. Lines showing consistently low titre were identified as candidates for further breeding or genetic dissection work. The preprint appears to lay the groundwork for formal GWAS or QTL mapping to identify the specific loci underlying resistance, though readers should consult the full manuscript for details of the analytical pipeline.

The work is a preprint and has not yet been peer-reviewed. It will be of primary interest to plant geneticists, crop scientists, and researchers working on virus resistance in cereals and grasses.