ARS | Publication request: Breeding Specialty Starch Maize Using Exotic Genetic Resources for Gene Discovery of Novel Alleles and Modifiers with Materials Generated from the USDA-ARS GEM Project

Submitted to: Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 28, 2011
Publication Date: March 17, 2011
Citation: Karn, A., Buckner, B., Janick-Buckner, D., Campbell, M., Blanco, M.H., Scott, M.P., Moran Lauter, A. 2011. Breeding Specialty Starch Maize Using Exotic Genetic Resources for Gene Discovery of Novel Alleles and Modifiers with Materials Generated from the USDA-ARS GEM Project [abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts. Abstract P204.

Technical Abstract: Amylomaize VII, a class of High Amylose Maize with at least 70% of the kernel starch composed of the linear amylose polymer, has had numerous food and industrial applications including the manufacturing of biodegradable plastics, adhesives and candies. More recently it has been found to be a significant source of resistant starch, a pre-biotic, that increases populations of beneficial micro-flora in the lower digestive system in humans, thus, improving health in many ways, among them being of most interest, the suppression colorectal cancer cell formation. We found that a novel recessive starch branching enzyme 1a (sbe1a) likely plays a significant role in the presence of the ae allele in elevating starch amylose from ~55% to >70% in the germplasm release 'GEMS-0067'. A series of gene specific PCR-based marker were designed in order to identify the putative sbe1a::gm67 allele in GEMS-0067, for the purpose of initiating a marker-based selection protocol to allow a more rapid conversion of GEM releases previously selected for yield and agronomics to Amylomaize VII parent lines. Our studies demonstrate how the USDA GEM project can simplify efforts to incorporate biodiversity in a commercial maize a breeding program especially when selecting for value added traits.