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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416841
Research Project: Adaptation of Grain Crops to Varying Environments Including Climates, Stressors, and Human Uses

Location: Plant Genetics Research

Title: How to monitor growth and identify developmental stages of maize (Zea mays)

Author
item SALAZAR-VIDAL, NANCY - University Of Missouri
item DRAVES, MELISSA - University Of Missouri
item FITZSIMMONS, SARAH - University Of Missouri
item TRAYLOR, ZACHARY - University Of Missouri
item TRACY, WILLIAM - University Of Wisconsin
item Flint Garcia, Sherry

Submitted to: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2025
Publication Date: 6/3/2025
Citation: Salazar-Vidal, N.M., Draves, M.A., Fitzsimmons, S.L., Traylor, Z.B., Tracy, W.F., Flint Garcia, S.A. 2025. How to monitor growth and identify developmental stages of maize (Zea mays). Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot108637.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot108637

Interpretive Summary: Each year, farmers grow 90 million acres of corn across the United States. Successful genetic and breeding research involving corn requires a precise understanding of the stages of corn growth and development. Here we provide a detailed, scientific protocol to monitor growth from planting through the seedling stages and into the reproductive stages. Monitoring growth involves observing seedling leaf structures throughout the field season, the appearance of the male (tassel) and female (ear) flowering structures, and the development and maturation of kernels on the ear. We dissected plants at various stages to show the development of plant parts in a useful visual guide. This protocol will be used by corn researchers, especially those new to the field of corn genetics and breeding.

Technical Abstract: Properly characterizing the stages of corn growth is critical to conducting successful experiments in maize genetics and breeding. Specifically, accurately identifying stages of growth is required to perform developmentally dependent sampling or data collection, to predict time to flowering and seed maturation, and to allow for comparisons between different lines and populations based on developmental time. In this protocol, we summarize previous knowledge about maize development and describe how to monitor these stages in the reference inbred line B73, a yellow dent corn.