Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Mar;22(1):100352.
doi: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100352. Epub 2024 Feb 1.

Efficacy of Event MON 87460 in drought-tolerant maize hybrids under optimal and managed drought-stress in eastern and southern africa

Caleb O Obunyali  1 , Kiru Pillay  2 , Barbara Meisel  3 , Eric N Ndou  4 , Kingstone Mashingaidze  5 , Julius Pyton Sserumaga  6 , Godfrey Asea  7 , Murenga Mwimali  8 , Regina Tende  9 , Yoseph Beyene  10 , Stephen Mugo  11 , Emmanuel Okogbenin  12 , Sylvester O Oikeh  13
Affiliations

Efficacy of Event MON 87460 in drought-tolerant maize hybrids under optimal and managed drought-stress in eastern and southern africa

Caleb O Obunyali et al. J Genet Eng Biotechnol. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Frequent drought events due to climate change have become a major threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production and food security in Africa. Genetic engineering is one of the ways of improving drought tolerance through gene introgression to reduce the impact of drought stress in maize production. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Event MON 87460 (CspB; DroughtGard®) gene in more than 120 conventional drought-tolerant maize hybrids in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda for 3-6 years under managed drought-stress and optimal conditions and establish any additional yield contribution or yield penalties of the gene in traited hybrids relative to their non-traited isohybrids. Germplasm used in the study were either MON 87460 traited un-adapted (2008-2010), adapted traited DroughtTEGO® (2011-2013) or a mix of both under confined field trials.

Results: Results showed significant yield differences (p < 0.001) among MON 87460 traited and non-traited hybrids across well-watered and managed drought-stress treatments. The gene had positive and significant effect on yield by 36-62% in three hybrids (CML312/CML445; WMA8101/CML445; and CML312/S0125Z) relative to non-traited hybrids under drought, and without significant yield penalty under optimum-moisture conditions in Lutzville, South Africa. Five traited hybrids (WMA2003/WMB4401; CML442/WMB4401; CML489/WMB4401; CML511/CML445; and CML395/WMB4401) had 7-13% significantly higher yield than the non-traited isohybrids out of 34 adapted DroughtTEGO® hybrids with same background genetics in the three countries for ≥ 3 years. The positive effect of MON 87460 was mostly observed under high drought-stress relative to low, moderate, or severe stress levels.

Conclusion: This study showed that MON 87460 transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids could effectively tolerate drought and shield farmers against severe yield loss due to drought stress. The study signified that development and adoption of transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids can cushion against farm yield losses due to drought stress as part of an integrated approach in adaptation to climate change effects.

Keywords: CspB gene; DroughtGard®; DroughtTEGO® hybrids; Gene efficacy; MON 87460 Event; Managed drought-stress; Optimum-moisture; Traited transgenic hybrids; Yield penalty; Zea mays.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
1a: Performance of MON 87460 for traited (pos) vs. non-traited (neg) hybrids under optimum-moisture and; 1b: performance of MON 87460 for traited (pos) vs. non-traited (neg) hybrids under different drought stress levels, in Kenya and Uganda across years, countries, and locations. (* Significantly different at P < 0.05 for traited vs. non-traited yield bars).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage (Delta %) yield difference between traited and non traited hybrids across managed drought-stress environments for six years in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Weighted percentage yield difference between traited and non traited hybrids under managed drought-stress environments in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
Fig. 4a
Fig. 4a
Delta (actual) yield difference between the traited hybrids (with the DT gene) and non-traited hybrid versions (without the DT gene) among 34 adapted hybrids with same genetics evaluated under managed drought-stress environments in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. * = Significantly different at P < 0.05.
Fig. 4b
Fig. 4b
Percentage Delta yield (difference) between the traited hybrids (with the DT gene) and non-traited hybrid versions (without the DT gene) among 34 adapted hybrids with same genetics evaluated under managed drought-stress environments in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. * = Significantly different at P < 0.05.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Yield reduction of traited, non traited and check hybrids due to drought in Kenya. Percentages are yield reduction under drought relative to optimum-moisture condition; an indication of level of drought stress obtained in the trials.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Yield reduction of traited, non traited and check hybrids due to drought stress in Uganda; percentages are yield reduction due to drought stress relative to optimum-moisture condition; an indication of level of drought stress obtained in the trials.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Percentage yield differences between traited and no-traited hybrids under drought and optimum-moisture conditions in Uganda; * = significant at P < 0.05.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Percentage yield differences between traited and no-traited hybrids under drought and optimum-moisture conditions at Orania and Hopetown in South Africa; * = significant at P < 0.05; ** = Significant at P = 0.01.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Percentage yield differences between traited and non-traited hybrids under drought stress and optimum-moisture at Lutzville, South Africa; * = significant at P < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Adee E., Roozeboom K., Balboa G.R., Schlegel A., Ciampitti I.A. Drought-tolerant corn hybrids yield more in drought-stressed environments with no penalty in non-stressed environments. Front. Plant Sci. 2016;7:1534. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01534. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ahmar S., Gill R.A., Jung K.H., Faheem A., Qasim M.U., Mubeen M., Zhou W. Conventional and molecular techniques from simple breeding to speed breeding in crop plants: recent advances and future outlook. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(7):2590. doi: 10.3390/ijms21072590. PMID: 32276445; PMCID: PMC7177917. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ahuja I., de Vos R.C., Bones A.M. Plant molecular stress responses face climate change. Trends Plant Sci. 2010;15:664–674. - PubMed
    1. Akrour A., Revilla P., Riache M., et al. Combining ability and heterosis of maize (Zea mays L.) populations from the Algerian Sahara Desert under Mediterranean drought conditions. Maydica. 2021;66(2):11.
    1. Andjelković V., Ignjatović-Micić D. ESTs analysis in maize developing kernels exposed to single and combined water and heat stresses. Sci. Agric. 2011;68:353–360. doi: 10.1590/s0103-90162011000300013. - DOI

LinkOut - more resources