Head smut is one of the most devastating diseases in maize, causing severeyield loss worldwide. The presentinvention describes the fine-mapping of a major QTL conferring resistance tohead smut. Markers useful for breeding, and methodsfor conferring head smut resistance are described. Nucleic acid sequence fromthe genetic locus conferring head smut resistance isdisclosed. Genes encoding proteins conferring head smut resistance aredisclosed.