ARS | Publication request: DIVERSITY-BASED APPROACHES TO EXPLORING GENETIC PHENOMENA AND QUANTITATIVE TRAITS IN MAIZE

Submitted to: Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 10, 2005
Publication Date: March 13, 2005
Citation: Szalma, S.J. 2005. Diversity-based approaches to exploring genetic phenomena and quantitative traits in maize [abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference.

Technical Abstract: Twenty-seven maize inbred lines representing a substantial portion of known maize genetic diversity were crossed using a half-diallel mating scheme to form 351 maize hybrids. The diversity-based approach, in concert with the half-diallel design, provides germplasm for populations that lend to the evaluation of multiple alleles at each locus during quantitative trait locus discovery, and provides an excellent scheme for the study of epistasis and other genetic phenomena. A large amount of molecular genetic information is already known about the inbred parents of the population. Three hundred forty nine of the 351 members of the half-diallel hybrid population were grown in the winter maize nursery for preliminary phenotypic evaluation and to begin the derivation of recombinant inbred line populations representing each cross of the half-diallel. Observations indicate substantial phenotypic variation is present for a large number of traits within the population. Pilot analyses based on these observations are presented. The half-diallel hybrid population will be planted in replicated yield trials in Missouri and at least two locations in North Carolina during the summer of 2005 for evaluation and the collection of phenotypic data. It is hoped that materials from this project will develop into tools for genetics research within the maize community. Those interested in collecting phenotypic data in the hybrid material or future generations should contact Steve Szalma. Seed from selected F1, F2, and subsequent generations will also be made publicly available as resources allow.