Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Plant Introduction Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401829
Research Project: Plant Genetic Resource Management and Information System Development

Location: Plant Introduction Research

Title: The Wilkes legacy collection: The modern era of teosinte research began here

Author
item Bernau, Vivian
item COSTICH, DENISE - Cornell University
item WILKES, H. GARRISON - University Of Massachusetts

Submitted to: Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2023
Publication Date: 3/16/2023
Citation: Bernau, V.M., Costich, D., Wilkes, H. 2023. The Wilkes legacy collection: The modern era of teosinte research began here [abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts. Poster No. 123.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Garrison Wilkes's 1967 pre-molecular biology doctoral thesis set the stage for many advances in understanding the key players in maize evolution, especially the teosintes (all Zea taxa, excluding maize). His field work in the 1960s addressed the essential unknowns of the time: How many taxa are there? Where do they grow? How are they related to one another? How large are the populations? Are they freely hybridizing with maize? In the 60 years that have passed, Garrison has been a direct eyewitness of the erosion of these populations and has been a tireless advocate for their conservation. In 2022, Garrison donated his original collections of teosinte seeds to the USDA-ARS North Central Region Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa. After decades of storage, the seeds are not viable. However, we have carefully captured images of the seeds, transcribed the information listed on each packet, and georeferenced the collection points of the 1600 samples. With this curated dataset-and limited seed available for sequencing-Garrison's pioneering work will continue to serve as the foundation of future scientific advances in the study of crop evolution, as well as the in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of the genus Zea.