Germplasm Overview

Maize has tremendous phenotypic and molecular diversity which can be harnessed for great gains in agricultural breeding programs. However, to use this diversity effectively, we must first understand the evolutionary history, phenotypic variation, and molecular variation of the germplasm.

Maize Germplasm Variation:

We are studying phenotypic and molecular variation in 303 inbred lines that Major Goodman has collected over the years. These lines capture nearly 85% of the common SNP diversity in maize. This intensive study also includes the evaluation of 50 phenotypic traits and expression profiling for this same group of plants.

We have developed 25 linkage mapping populations from carefully chosen lines that together capture roughly 80% of the common SNP diversity in maize. Each of these 25 lines has been crossed to B73, and we have derived 5000 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from these. These lines have been genotype for about 1200 markers, and will be regenotyped at 10,000s markers in 2010.  Phenotypic data on these lines and hybrids can be accessed through this site.

If any the original 25 lines or the 303 inbred lines would be of use to map your trait of interest they are publically available through the National Plant Germplasm System.  To obtain seed please contact Mark Millard .    The 5000 Nested Association Mapping RILs are also available through the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign.