Project Number: 3625-21000-032-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2000
End Date: May 27, 2005

Objective:
1) Improve corn populations for important agronomic and grain quality traits by using recurrent selection methodology and transformation methodology, 2) Develop and evaluate quantitative genetic models to understand the genetic basis of heterosis and the organization of genetic variation in corn populations, and 3) Apply molecular markers methodology to study the organization of genetic variation in maize populations and to facilitate selection for important agronomic and grain quality traits.

Approach:
Conduct long-term selection experiments to compare rates of response to selection methods; conduct quantitative genetic studies to estimate types of genetic effects present in selected and unselected populations; discover genes and develop and apply transformation protocols to improve the grain quality of corn. BL1-P; Recertified September 22, 2004.