Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Plant Introduction Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #208076

Title: The Other NPGS Maize Collection – A Rich Source of Maize Genetic Diversity

Author
item Millard, Mark
item Gardner, Candice

Submitted to: Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2007
Publication Date: 3/19/2007
Citation: Millard, M.J., Gardner, C.A. 2007. The Other NPGS Maize Collection – A Rich Source of Maize Genetic Diversity [abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The maize collection at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, IA is comprised of over 18,300 accessions from all over the world. Of these, 16,000 are maize accessions with population level genetic diversity and over 2,000 are inbred lines with little segregation. The collection includes teosintes, an ancestor of maize, Tripsacum and Coix, and expired plant variety protected inbreds. The collection is available for distribution to researchers worldwide. Accessions vary in size from the 2-3 foot tall Gaspe Flint to the 15-20 foot tall tropical collections. They are differentiated from the maize genetic stocks collection, which is maintained at Urbana, IL. Maize curation project objectives include acquisition of landraces, inbreds and populations which represent the breadth of maize genetic diversity, conservation of these resources and their genetic integrity, and providing diverse genetic resources and associated passport, provenance, characterization and evaluation data for research and educational purposes which support agricultural research applications. Approximately 25% of the collection is distributed annually to support a wide array of research and educational objectives, including evolutionary biology and genetics, breeding for increased yield and agronomic traits, silage quality, ethanol use, sweet corn flavor, popcorn expansion, physiological traits, disease and insect resistance, archaeology and ethnobotany, and organic crop production. Collection information can be accessed via the GRIN Database, http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=36-25-12-00.