Reply: Specific Reasons to Favor Maize in the U.S.

Authors: Lawrence, Carolyn; WALBOT, VIRGINIA - STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: The Plant Cell
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2007
Publication Date: 10/19/2007
Citation: Lawrence, C.J., Walbot, V. 2007. Reply: Specific Reasons to Favor Maize in the U.S. The Plant Cell. 19(10):2973.

Interpretive Summary: We previously reported that maize is an appropriate model plant in the U.S. for the scientific study of biofuel production in the closely related fuelstock grasses. Rice researchers Bush and Leach (Translational Genomics for Bioenergy Production: There's Room for More Than One Model; Plant Cell 19:2971-2973) challenged the utility of maize as a model for fuelstock grass development. This response to their commentary reiterates that maize is an appropriate model in the U.S., but notes that other countries may have resources that make rice and other species attractive models.

Technical Abstract: Leveraging insights from model organisms for applied purposes uses basic genetic findings to solve practical problems; this practice has evolved into the field called "translational genomics." Various model organisms are anticipated to be useful for fuelstock grass development, with the ideal candidate varying from country to country. In the U.S., maize is likely to be the best model for the C4 grasses.