Maize Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 182-190 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 189 provided crucial insights into the evolutionary potential of maize, allowing for rapid adaptation to diverse ecological niches. Looking forward, the role of gene flow in maize evolution appears increasingly pivotal as the world faces global challenges such as climate change and the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Gene flow stands as a key mechanism by which maize can continue to adapt and thrive in diverse environments. It will be crucial in developing varieties that can withstand environmental stresses and meet the demands of growing global populations. Understanding the complex interactions between gene flow, genetic diversity, and environmental factors will be essential for designing effective breeding programs. These programs must not only focus on enhancing yield and resistance traits but also on conserving the genetic heritage of maize. Policies and ethical considerations will play a significant role in guiding these efforts, ensuring that the benefits of gene flow are realized while minimizing potential negative impacts on indigenous maize varieties and their ecosystems. In conclusion, gene flow is integral to the ongoing evolution and sustainability of maize as a global staple crop. Embracing the dynamics of gene flow, while carefully managing its ecological and genetic impacts, will be key to future maize breeding and conservation strategies, ensuring that this vital crop continues to serve as a cornerstone of food security worldwide. Acknowledgments The author gratefully acknowledges the insightful feedback provided by two anonymous peer reviewers, which greatly contributed to the improvement of this manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Calfee E., Gates D., Lóránt A., Perkins M., Coop G., and Ross-Ibarra J., 2021, Selective sorting of ancestral introgression in maize and teosinte along an elevational cline, PLoS Genetics, 17(10): e1009810. Egan P., Muola A., and Stenberg J., 2018, Capturing genetic variation in crop wild relatives: An evolutionary approach, Evolutionary Applications, 11(8): 1293-1304. Gates D.J., Runcie D., Janzen G., Navarro A., Willcox M., Sonder K., Snodgrass S., Rodríguez-Zapata F., Sawers R., Rellán-Álvarez R., Buckler E., Hearne S., Hufford M., and Ross-Ibarra J., 2019, Single-gene resolution of locally adaptive genetic variation in Mexican maize, bioRxiv, 18: 706739.. ht tps://doi.org/10.1101/706739 Haberer G., Kamal N., Bauer E., Gundlach H., Fischer I., Seidel M., Spannagl M., Marcon C., Ruban A., Urbany C., Nemri A., Hochholdinger F., Ouzunova M., Houben A., Schön C., and Mayer K., 2020, European maize genomes highlight intraspecies variation in repeat and gene content, Nature Genetics, 52: 950-957. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-020-0671-9 He F., Pasam R., Shi F., Kant S., Keeble-Gagnère G., Kay P., Forrest K., Fritz A., Hucl P., Wiebe K., Knox R., Cuthbert R., Pozniak C., Akhunova A., Morrell P., Davies J., Webb S., Spangenberg G., Hayes B., Daetwyler H., Tibbits J., Hayden M., and Akhunov E., 2019, Exome sequencing highlights the role of wild-relative introgression in shaping the adaptive landscape of the wheat genome, Nature Genetics, 51: 896-904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-019-0382-2. Hu H., Crow T., Nojoomi S., Schulz A., Hufford M., Flint-Garcia S., Sawers R., Rellán-Álvarez R., Estévez-Palmas J., Ross-Ibarra J., and Runcie D., 2022, Allele-specific expression reveals multiple paths to highland adaptation in maize, Molecular Biology and Evolution, 39(11): msac239. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msac239. Hufford M., Seetharam A., Woodhouse M., Chougule K., Ou S., Liu J., Ricci W., Guo T., Olson A., Qiu Y., Coletta R., Tittes S., Hudson A., Marand A., Wei S., Lu Z., Wang B., Tello-Ruiz M., Piri R., Wang N., Kim D., Zeng Y., O'Connor C., Li X., Gilbert A., Baggs E., Krasileva K., Portwood J., Cannon E., Andorf C., Manchanda N., Snodgrass S., Hufnagel D., Jiang Q., Pedersen S., Syring M., Kudrna D., Llaca V., Fengler K., Schmitz R., Ross-Ibarra J., Yu J., Gent J., Hirsch C., Ware D., and Dawe R., 2021, De novo assembly, annotation, and comparative analysis of 26 diverse maize genomes, Science, 373: 655-662. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg5289. Kistler L., Thakar H., VanDerwarker A., Domic A., Bergström A., George R., Harper T., Allaby R., Hirth K., and Kennett D., 2020, Archaeological Central American maize genomes suggest ancient gene flow from South America, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117: 33124-33129. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2015560117
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