Germplasm collection – valuable resources of variability for plant and ear traits in maize breeding

Heterosis Is Prevalent for Multiple Traits in Diverse Maize Germplasm

BACKGROUND Heterosis describes the superior phenotypes observed in hybrids relative to their inbred parents. Maize is a model system for studying heterosis due to the high levels of yield heterosis and commercial use of hybrids. METHODS The inbred lines from an association mapping panel were crossed to a common inbred line, B73, to generate nearly 300 hybrid genotypes. Heterosis was evaluated...

Combining maize base germplasm for cold tolerance breeding

Genetic Improvement of the Pee Dee Cotton Germplasm Collection following Seventy Years of Plant Breeding

One of the most signifi cant, long-term public U.S. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm enhancement programs is known as the Pee Dee germplasm program. The unique, genetic foundation of the Pee Dee germplasm was created using germplasm from Upland, Sea Island (Gossypium barbadense L.), and primitive diploid cottons. Since the program’s inception in 1935, the Pee Dee germplasm progra...

Genome projects and gene pools: new germplasm for plant breeding?

Crop gene pools have adapted to and sustained the demands of agricultural systems for thousands of years. Yet, very little is known about their content, distribution, architecture, or circuitry. The presumably shallow elite gene pools often continue to yield genetic gains while the exotic pools remain mostly untapped, uncharacterized, and underutilized. The concept and content of a crop's gene ...

Towards conservation and breeding of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) by assessing ISSR, morphological traits and germination variability

Ajowan is one of the most important members of medicinal plants of the Apiaceae, consumed by humans. The aim of this study was to explore genetic variability of 20 ajowan populations by ISSR fingerprinting and evaluation of traits at germination. Out of the 30 ISSR primers, ten generated reproducible and polymorphic bands. A total of 93 bands were detected out of which 65 were polymorphic. High...