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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352133
Research Project: Genetics of Disease Resistance and Food Quality Traits in Corn

Location: Plant Science Research

Title: Harnessing maize biodiversity

Author
item SAMAYOA, LUIS - North Carolina State University
item DUNNE, JEFFREY - North Carolina State University
item Andres, Ryan
item Holland, Jim - Jim

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2018
Publication Date: 12/20/2018
Citation: Samayoa, L.F., Dunne, J.C., Andres, R.J., Holland, J.B. 2018. Harnessing maize biodiversity. In: Bennetzen, J., S. Flint-Garcia, C. Hirsch, and R. Tuberosa (Eds.) The Maize Genome. Springer, Switzerland. Book Chapeter. pg. 335-366.

Interpretive Summary: Maize is a remarkably diverse species, adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions and farming practices. In this chapter we review the phenotypic and DNA diversity of maize, how it is partitioned among and within geographic regions and ‘races’. We consider how modern sequencing and genomic technologies can be used to study this diversity and incorporate useful genes from diverse maize into temperate-adapted breeding programs.

Technical Abstract: Maize is a remarkably diverse species, adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions and farming practices. The latitudinal range of maize is immense, ranging from 54°N in Alberta, Canada, to 45°S in the province of Chubut, Argentina. In terms of altitude, maize is cultivated from sea level to 4000 m. In Mexico alone, maize is grown in arid regions receiving 400 mm of rain to tropical environments with 3555 mm of precipitation during their growing season. In this chapter we review the phenotypic and DNA diversity of maize, how it is partitioned among and within geographic regions and ‘races’. We consider how modern sequencing and genomic technologies can be used to study this diversity and incorporate useful genes from diverse maize into temperate-adapted breeding programs.