A gene encoding maize caffeoyl-CoA O -methyltransferase confers quantitative resistance to multiple pathogens

Peter Balint-Kurti, Qin Yang and colleagues report that ZmCCoAOMT2, which encodes a caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, is a gene within the quantitative trait locus qMdr9.02, which confers resistance to southern leaf blight and gray leaf spot. Their findings suggest that resistance might be caused by differences in levels of lignin and other metabolites in the phenylpropanoid pathway.