Maize Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 218-227 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 223 can develop maize varieties with enhanced ear traits, contributing to higher productivity. 5.2 Conservation of wild relatives Conserving the genetic diversity of wild Zea species is crucial for maintaining a reservoir of beneficial traits that can be integrated into cultivated maize. The domestication of maize from its wild ancestor, teosinte, involved significant metabolic divergence, with distinct sets of metabolites being targeted during different stages of maize evolution (Xu et al., 2019). This highlights the importance of preserving wild relatives to ensure the availability of diverse genetic resources. Strategies for integrating wild genetic resources into crop breeding include the use of genomic screening to identify genes affected by artificial selection during domestication and improvement (Yamasaki et al., 2007). By understanding the genetic basis of traits in wild relatives, breeders can introgress these beneficial alleles into cultivated maize, enhancing its adaptability and resilience. Furthermore, the use of temperate germplasm to improve tropical germplasm has shown potential in enhancing heterosis in grain yields (Wen et al., 2012). This approach involves incorporating unique alleles from temperate lines into tropically adapted lines, thereby increasing genetic diversity and improving crop performance. 5.3 Utilizing genetic diversity for agriculture Leveraging phylogenomic data to identify beneficial traits is a key strategy for improving agricultural productivity. For example, the identification of candidate genes contributing to metabolic divergence between maize and teosinte has provided insights into domestication-associated changes in metabolism (Xu et al., 2019). These findings can be used to develop maize varieties with enhanced metabolic traits, improving their nutritional quality and stress tolerance. Practical applications of phylogenomic findings in agriculture include the development of novel structural features in maize plants to increase yield and adaptability (Li et al., 2021). By understanding the phenotypic trait panorama, breeders can select for traits that enhance the structural efficiency of maize, such as improved nutrient transfer and epigenetic memory. Additionally, the integration of digital technologies and physiological knowledge into breeding programs has shown promise in hastening genetic gain (Diepenbrock et al., 2021). By combining crop growth models with whole genome prediction, breeders can more accurately predict the performance of untested genotypes in diverse environments, thereby accelerating the development of high-yielding maize varieties. 6 Future Directions inZea Phylogenomics 6.1 Advances in genomic technologies The advent of cutting-edge genomic technologies such as CRISPR and long-read sequencing has revolutionized the field of phylogenomics, offering unprecedented opportunities to delve deeper into the evolutionary relationships and species divergence within the genus Zea. Long-read sequencing technologies, for instance, have significantly enhanced our ability to sequence entire genomes with high accuracy, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of genetic variations and evolutionary patterns (McKain et al., 2018; Koenen et al., 2019; Guo et al., 2022). These technologies facilitate the identification of orthologous genes and the construction of more accurate phylogenetic trees, which are crucial for resolving complex evolutionary histories (Delsuc et al., 2005; Allio et al., 2019). CRISPR technology, on the other hand, offers the potential to manipulate specific genes and observe the resultant phenotypic changes, thereby providing insights into gene function and evolutionary adaptations (Guo et al., 2022; Chen et al., 2024). The integration of CRISPR with phylogenomic studies could enable researchers to experimentally validate hypotheses about gene function and evolutionary processes, thus bridging the gap between genomics and functional biology.
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