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Unlocking the Genetic Diversity of Maize Landraces with Doubled Haploids Opens New Avenues for Breeding

Overview of attention for article published in PLOS ONE, February 2013
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Title
Unlocking the Genetic Diversity of Maize Landraces with Doubled Haploids Opens New Avenues for Breeding
Published in
PLOS ONE, February 2013
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0057234
Pubmed ID
Authors

Alexander Strigens, Wolfgang Schipprack, Jochen C. Reif, Albrecht E. Melchinger

Abstract

Landraces are valuable genetic resources for broadening the genetic base of elite germplasm in maize. Extensive exploitation of landraces has been hampered by their genetic heterogeneity and heavy genetic load. These limitations may be overcome by the in-vivo doubled haploid (DH) technique. A set of 132 DH lines derived from three European landraces and 106 elite flint (EF) lines were genotyped for 56,110 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and evaluated in field trials at five locations in Germany in 2010 for several agronomic traits. In addition, the landraces were compared with synthetic populations produced by intermating DH lines derived from the respective landrace. Our objectives were to (1) evaluate the phenotypic and molecular diversity captured within DH lines derived from European landraces, (2) assess the breeding potential (usefulness) of DH lines derived from landraces to broaden the genetic base of the EF germplasm, and (3) compare the performance of each landrace with the synthetic population produced from the respective DH lines. Large genotypic variances among DH lines derived from landraces allowed the identification of DH lines with grain yields comparable to those of EF lines. Selected DH lines may thus be introgressed into elite germplasm without impairing its yield level. Large genetic distances of the DH lines to the EF lines demonstrated the potential of DH lines derived from landraces to broaden the genetic base of the EF germplasm. The comparison of landraces with their respective synthetic population showed no yield improvement and no reduction of phenotypic diversity. Owing to the low population structure and rapid decrease of linkage disequilibrium within populations of DH lines derived from landraces, these would be an ideal tool for association mapping. Altogether, the DH technology opens new opportunities for characterizing and utilizing the genetic diversity present in gene bank accessions of maize.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 126 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United States 3 2%
Germany 2 2%
Netherlands 1 <1%
Zimbabwe 1 <1%
United Kingdom 1 <1%
Brazil 1 <1%
Denmark 1 <1%
Mexico 1 <1%
Unknown 115 91%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 29 23%
Student > Master 27 21%
Researcher 24 19%
Student > Doctoral Student 8 6%
Student > Bachelor 5 4%
Other 16 13%
Unknown 17 13%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 92 73%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 6 5%
Engineering 2 2%
Environmental Science 1 <1%
Computer Science 1 <1%
Other 3 2%
Unknown 21 17%