Maize Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 171-181 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 171 Research Report Open Access Teosinte and Its Role in Maize Genetic Enhancement Shanjun Zhu, Wei Wang Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang AandF University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: tina.wei.wang@jicat.org Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0017 Received: 30 May, 2024 Accepted: 02 Jul.,, 2024 Published: 18 Jul., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhu and Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhu S.Z., and Wang W., 2024, Teosinte and its role in maize genetic enhancement, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 15(4): 171-181 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0017) Abstract This study explores the crucial role of teosinte in the genetic enhancement of maize. As the wild ancestor of modern maize, teosinte possesses rich genetic diversity and novel alleles that were lost during domestication, making it an important genetic resource for maize improvement. Research indicates that teosinte alleles can enhance various agronomic traits in maize, such as yield, stress resistance, and nutritional quality. For example, the introduction of the UPA2 allele from teosinte has significantly increased maize yield under high-density planting conditions by altering plant architecture. Additionally, teosinte's genetic diversity includes strong alleles that control kernel composition traits, such as starch, protein, and oil content, which can improve the nutritional value of maize. The integration of archaeological and molecular evidence has significantly advanced the understanding of the teosinte-maize relationship, highlighting the potential of teosinte in modern maize breeding programs. Techniques such as hybridization and backcrossing, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing allow researchers to effectively utilize teosinte's genetic diversity to develop superior maize varieties with improved agronomic traits and resilience to environmental stresses. Despite the genetic barriers, breeding difficulties, and regulatory and ethical issues associated with using teosinte for maize improvement, these challenges can be overcome through global collaboration and germplasm conservation. In the future, advanced genomic tools and techniques, the exploration of new potential traits from teosinte, and the integration of teosinte into sustainable agriculture practices will fully realize its potential in maize genetic enhancement, leading to the development of superior maize varieties that meet the demands of modern agriculture and contribute to global food security. Keywords Teosinte; Genetic diversity; Maize improvement; Alleles; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Maize (Zeamays ssp. mays) is one of the most important cereal crops globally, and its domestication from its wild ancestor, teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis), is a remarkable example of plant evolution driven by human selection. The domestication process, which began approximately 9 000 years ago, involved significant morphological and genetic changes, transforming teosinte's small, hard kernels into the large, soft kernels of modern maize (Sahoo et al., 2019). This transformation was facilitated by the selection of favorable traits, such as reduced branching and increased kernel size, which were controlled by a relatively small number of major loci (Liu et al., 2019). However, this process also led to a reduction in genetic diversity due to domestication and selection bottlenecks (Warburton et al., 2011). Teosinte, the wild progenitor of maize, remains a valuable genetic resource for maize improvement due to its greater genetic diversity and the presence of novel alleles that were lost during domestication (Karn et al., 2011; Fang et al., 2019). Teosinte harbors alleles that can enhance agronomic traits such as yield, stress resistance, and nutritional quality (Sahoo et al., 2021). For instance, the introgression of teosinte alleles has been shown to improve high-density maize yields by altering plant architecture (Tian et al., 2019). Additionally, teosinte's genetic diversity includes alleles that contribute to kernel composition traits, such as increased oil and protein content, which are beneficial for both human and animal nutrition (Karn et al., 2011). The genetic basis of these traits has been elucidated through various studies, highlighting the potential of teosinte in modern maize breeding programs (Liu et al., 2019; Hubbard et al., 2002). This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of teosinte in maize genetic enhancement. It will explore the genetic and phenotypic differences between maize and teosinte, the potential of teosinte alleles to
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