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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65648
Title: MOLECULAR AND PHENOTYPIC EVOLUTION OF C1, A REGULATOR OF ANTHOCYANIN BIOSYNTHESIS IN ZEA

Author
item HANSON, MICHAEL - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item GAUT, BRANDON - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
item STECK, ADRIAN - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item FUERSTENBERG, SUSAN - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item GOODMAN, MAJOR - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item Coe Jr, Edward
item DOEBLEY, JOHN - UNIV OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This study uses one of the genes that controls purple or red color in corn kernels, to study changes during domestication of corn from its wild relatives. Molecular comparisons were made of the DNA changes in this gene during the change from colorless kernels in the wild relatives to colored in the first types of corn cultivated by man. The data indicate pre-existence of the necessary genes before domestication, and that particular combinations of genes led to color during domestication, rather than color arising after domestication by receiving infusions of new genes. Because the genes required for seed color were distributed in wild relatives, before they became combined into ancient cultivated corn with seed color, the question that arises is whether these genes are neutral in effect, relative to human or to natural selection. The evidence shows that this particular gene is not neutral, and that study of the basis for its effects should be done towards further corn improvement.

Technical Abstract: One of the regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis in maize, the C1 gene, was surveyed for allelic and molecular diversity in maize and its wild relatives, the teosintes. In the teosinte samples, forms that have and forms that lack the promoter element for color were found, while in the maize samples, only forms that have the promoter were found. Observations indicate that the c1 locus is not evolving in a strictly neutral manner, inasmuch as it shows the lowest observed level of nucleotide polymorphism for any maize gene and biased representation of forms (haplotypes). The evolution of purple kernels appears to have involved selection for a pre-existing allele that, in combination with other specific genes, produces colored kernels. Thus, introgression need not be invoked to explain shared haplotypes among the taxa.