No studies have been conducted to explore the influence of stress caused by uncontrolled weeds on traits associated with drought tolerance. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) Delaying weed control would lengthen the anthesis-silking interval (ASI) in both a drought tolerant and non-drought tolerant maize hybrid and 2) The presence of drought tolerance genetics comes at a physiological cost, resulting in greater yield reductions under weedy conditions. Field studies were conducted to compare the response of a drought tolerant hybrid with its non-drought tolerant near-isoline to seven weed control timings. There was no treatment by hybrid interaction at any site-year for any parameters evaluated. Delaying weed control reduced height, leaf number, biomass, kernel number and grain yield and lengthened ASI for both hybrids. The drought tolerant hybrid had a shorter ASI, a lower kernel number and higher kernel weight. No yield differences were observed between hybrids at any weed control timing. / Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (File CRDPJ 425128-11), Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-152). / Microfiche. / xiv, 152 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

The maize leaf has three main axes of growth, with an asymmetric distribution of tissue types along each axis. This study focuses on three mutants, Wavy auricle in blade1-R (Wab 1-R), liguleless1-R (lg1-R) and milkweed pod1-R (mwp1-R) that disrupt axial patterning of maize leaves. Dominant Wab1 mutations disrupt both medial-lateral and proximal-distal patterning. Wab1 leaf blades are narrow and ectopic auricle and sheath-like tissues extend into the leaf blade. Previous analyses have shown that Lg1 acts cell-autonomously to specify ligule and auricle tissues. The current study reveals additional roles in defining leaf shape. The recessive lg1-R mutation exacerbates the Wab1-R phenotype; in the double mutants, most of the proximal blade is deleted and sheath tissue extends along the residual blade. A mosaic analysis of Wab1-R was conducted in Lg1 and lg1-R backgrounds to determine if Wab1-R affects leaf development in a cell-autonomous manner. Normal tissue identity was restored in all wab1/- sectors in a lg1-R mutant background, and in three quarters of sectors in a Lg1 background. These results suggest that Lg1 can influence the autonomy of Wab1-R. In both genotypes, leaf-halves with wab1/- sectors were significantly wider than non-sectored leaf-halves, suggesting that Wab1-R acts cell-autonomously to affect lateral growth. mwp1-R is a recessive mutation that specifically affects patterning of sheath tissue. Characterisation of the mwp1-R phenotype revealed that mwp1-R husk leaves and the sheaths of vegetative leaves develop pairs of outgrowths on the abaxial surface associated with regions of adaxialised tissue. In situ hybridisation confirmed that disruptions to adaxial-abaxial patterning are correlated with misexpression of leaf polarity genes. Leaf margins and fused organs such as the prophyll are most severely affected by mwp1-R. The first two husk leaves normally fuse along adjacent margins to form the bi-keeled prophyll. In the most severe cases the mwp1-R prophyll is reduced to an unfused, two-pronged structure and keel outgrowth is significantly reduced. We speculate that the adaxial-abaxial patterning system has been co-opted during evolution to promote outgrowth of the keels in normal prophyll development. The results of this study place Mwp1, wab1 and Lg1 in a network of genes that regulate leaf polarity and axial patterning.

The pattern and sequence of zein degradation in the endosperm of germinating maize seeds were investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The proteases involved in the degradation of various zein components (α, ß and γ) were extracted with three buffer systems and partially characterized with respect to their ability to degrade various zein components. They were also investigated in vivo by germinating the seeds in the presence of protease inhibitors used singly and in combination. Of the various zein components, γ-zein (27-kD) was the first to be degraded and its degradation was complete by the third day after germination (DAG). Beta-zeins (17- and 18-kD) began to be degraded on the second DAG, degradation being complete by the seventh day for the l7-kD polypeptide, and the fourth day for the 18-kD polypeptide. The degradation of 10-kD- zein began on the fourth DAG and was complete by the eighth day. The α-zein fraction (22-and 24-kD) was degraded beginning on the faith day and continued gradually until after the tenth day. From the results of these studies, the arrangement of various zein fractions within the protein bodies can be deduced and this was consistent with the immunocytochemical data published by others. Gamma-zein is situated in the peripheral region of the protein bodies and could be a structural component of the protein body membrane or it may be directly anchored in the membrane. Beta-zeins are internal to γ-zein with the l0-kD in the interface between the 17-kD and γ-zein. The 10- kD zein is located between the 17-kD and α-zein or interlacing with α-zein in the protein body core. Finally, a-zeins are in the protein body core. Based on these observations the proteolysis of the protein in protein bodies of maize would start from the periphery and proceed towards their core. The proteases involved in degradation of various zein components were synthesized de novo. The mRNAs pre-existing in dry seeds appeared to direct the synthesis of active proteases required for zein degradation at least during the initial stages of germination. Serine protease was responsible for the degradation of a- and ß-zeins while aspartic (acid) protease may play some role in ß-zein degradation. Serine and cysteine (thiol) proteases worked synergistically in γ-zein degradation. Enzymes extractable from the endosperm of germinating seeds with 0.2 M acetate buffer (pH 3.8) were able to degrade the α-, ß-, and γ-zeins in an in vito assay. / Ph. D.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in the world; however, its yield is compromised by new production challenges leading to poor yield in sub-Saharan Africa. This calls for a need to enhance maize adaptation to changing climate and challenging environments. The new maize varieties should be richly endowed with high frequency of genes that confer high yield under stress and non-stress conditions. Currently, such maize is not available, prompting research into development of new germplasm lines for use in developing new hybrids. The objective of the study was to determine i) the level of genetic diversity using SSR molecular markers and phenotypic data in a set of 60 maize inbreds from the breeding program, ii) genotype by environment interaction in maize hybrids, iii) cultivar superiority, iv) combining ability effects, v) the relationship between yield and secondary traits and vi) the relevant genetic parameters that underpin genetic gains in a breeding program. To study genetic diversity present in the germplasm, phenotypic data and 30 SSR markers were used to estimate the genetic distance between the inbreds. The results indicated that inbred lines which were put in the same cluster were related by pedigree and origin. To assess the level of genotype by environment interaction (GXE) and cultivar superiority of the new germplasm lines, hybrids were planted in five environments with two replications. Data were analysed using the REML and AMMI tools in GenStat 14th edition. The results revealed significant differences between hybrids and environments for grain yield. However, GXE interaction was also significant indicating possible challenges which can be encountered in selecting new hybrids. To determine combining ability estimates two different testers were used. The REML tool from GENSTAT was used to perform the line X tester analysis. Results indicated that both additive and non-additive gene action were important for grain yield. The direct selection strategy for yield was recommended because heritability of grain yield was high. Overall, results suggested that the information on genetic diversity will assist in defining heterotic groups; which will enable effective and efficient management of the germplasm lines to produce new maize hybrids. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

A diallel study of American Corn Belt maize (Zea mays L.) was conducted at Holland, Virginia in 1981 and 1982. All possible crosses of twelve inbred parents (A619, A632, B73, H60, H93, H96, Mo17, Oh7B, Pa91, Val7, Va.79:419, Va85) were planted in three replications with population density treatments of 39,536, 49,420, 59,304, and 69,188 pl/ha in strips across hybrid treatments. Analyses of variance and combining ability analyses were performed on traits measuring the timing of anthesis (pollen shed) and silk emergence, on ear components of yield, and on components of kernel size. Density effects were highly significant for all traits, except for that of pollen shed duration, in the analyses combined over years. Hybrid-by-year interactions were highly significant for all traits. Correlations between GCA effects of grain yield and GCA effects of silking delay (anthesis-to-silking interval), kernels per row on the ear, ear kernel number, and kernel depth[(ear diameter - cob diameter)/2] were -0.79, 0.64, 0.66, and 0.80 in 1981, and 0.24, 0.81, 0.71, and 0.26 in 1982, respectively. Moisture stress sufficient to cause wilting occurred before and during silking in 1981. Apparently, short silking delay was associated with high moisture stress tolerance for grain yield in 1981 and was associated with long ear shoot length in 1982. Deep kernel depth apparently was associated with drought stress tolerance for yield as well. The heritabilities of ear traits were higher the earlier they became established in the sequence of development. Heritabilities of silking delay and most ear components of yield were increased by increasing planting density. However, the correlations among flowering and ear traits largely were unaffected by density, perhaps because densities were not high enough to make barrenness a substantial factor in grain yield. The most important traits related to yield were silking delay, kernels per row, kernel depth, and kernel row number. GCA to SCA variance component ratios were increased by combining data over years and by the more optimum season for yield. / Ph. D.

Orientador: Sergio Marangoni / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T06:47:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_AdrianaMoreiradaSilvae_D.pdf: 6318592 bytes, checksum: 2d42ae741dfb799cf38492581dbb5324 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: As plantas são capazes de responder e resistir ao ataque de patógenos ativando uma diversidade de estratégias de defesa. A maioria delas exibe uma estratégia geral onde são ativadas respostas bioquímicas de maneira coordenada, incluindo a reprogramação do metabolismo celular, o reforço das barreiras celulares e produção de compostos antimicrobianos e proteínas que agem diretamente sobre o patógeno. Mas existem também respostas específicas das plantas a determinados patógenos, onde são ativadas vias de defesa específicas.Apesar da crescente quantidade de dados em literatura descrevendo genes envolvidos na patogênese vegetal, pouco se sabe sobre as modificações ao nível de proteoma associadas com estas interações. Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo proteômico comparativo de plantas de milho, de dois genótipos contrastantes em relação à resistência ao fungo Puccinia polysora, em que foram caracterizadas as diferenças no perfil de expressão de proteínas em sementes dos dois genótipos. Através de uma ampla caracterização dos perfis de proteína por diferentes métodos eletroforéticos, foram reveladas 12 proteínas diferencialmente expressas no genótipo de maior resistência. Destas, 5 foram identificadas por espectrometria de massas por MALDI-TOF, sendo 3 delas identificadas como proteínas com atividade de defesa: uma lipoxigenase de 96 kDa, uma proteína Vicilin-like de 66 kDa e uma proteína Heat-Shockde 70 kDa. No segundo capítulo da tese, apresentamos um estudo complementar de mapeamento de QTLs em plantas de milho para a identificação dos genes reguladores da síntese de DIMBOA, um composto secundário que atua na defesa de plantas contra fungos e insetos. Neste estudo foi construído um mapa genético de ligação de uma população F2 resultante do cruzamento de uma linhagem com alta produção de DIMBOA e outra linhagem de baixa produção deste composto. O mapa, com um tamanho total de 1432,9 centimorgans, foi construído com 123 marcadores SSR. Com este mapa foi possível identificar quatro QTLs potencialmente relacionadas com a regulação da via de síntese de DIMBOA, sendo uma no cromossomo 1 (bin 1.08), duas no cromossomo 6 (bin 6.01 e bin 6.02) e uma no cromossomo 10 (bin 10.05) / Abstract: Plants have the ability to respond to invasion by pathogens through activation of a variety of defense strategies. Most plants exhibit a general defense strategy in which a wide range of biochemical responses are induced in a coordinated manner, including reprogramming of cellular metabolism, accumulation of barrier-forming substances and production of antimicrobial compounds and proteins that act directly to prevent pathogen invasion. Some plants show also specific pathogen responses, in a different strategy pathway. Although there is an increasing amount of literature dealing with genes involved in bacterial and fungal pathogenesis, very few reports have addressed proteome modifications associated with such interactions. In the present work we show a comparative proteomic analysis of maize plants, resistant and susceptible genotypes to Puccinia polysora fungi infection and the characterization of differences in protein expression profiles of seeds. Protein profiles of both genotypes were analyzed by a broad range of electrophoresis methods and we could identify 12 proteins differentially expressed in resistant genotype. Five of them were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 3 of them were identified as defense related proteins, a 96 kDa lipoxygenase, 66 kDa Vicilin-like protein and 70 kDa Heat-Shock protein. We also present a complementary study of QTL mapping for identification of regulatory genes controlling DIMBOA synthesis in maize. In this study is shown a linkage map of a F2 population resultant from crossing between two maize lines presenting high DIMBOA production and low DIMBOA production. This map presents 1432,9 centimorgans and was constructed using 123 SSR markers. Using this map we could identify four QTLs possibly related with DIMBOA production, one QTL on bin 1.08 of chromossome 1, two QTLs on bins 6.01 and 6.02 on chromossome 6, and one last QTL on bin 10.05 on chromossome 10 / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular