Genetic gain and cost efficiency of marker-assisted selection of maize for improved resistance to multiple foliar pathogens

Abstract

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum, gray leaf spot (GLS) caused by Cercospora zeae-maydis and maize streak caused by maize streak Mastrevirus (MSV) are the most destructive foliar diseases limiting maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Most foliar diseases of maize are managed using quantitative (partial) resistance, and previous studies have reported quantitative trait loci associated with host resistance (rQTL). Our objective was to compare the genetic gain and costs resulting from phenotypic, genotypic, and markerassisted selection of partially inbred lines derived from many families for resistance to infection