Exploiting Exotic Germplasm in the Development of Early-Maturing Drought Tolerant Maize Cultivars: Public Breeding Efforts for the Mon-Dak Region (western ND and eastern MT).

Maize breeders decide which combination of traits and environments are needed to breed for in both inbreds and hybrids. Most traits that concern the breeder (e.g. yield, drought tolerance) are economically very important and are quantitative in nature. Quantitative traits are controlled by a large, but unknown, number of genes, each having a small effect on the total expression of the trait. The environment in which they are measured determines their effects and it is dependent on genetic background (each hybrid has its own genetic effects). The genome of B73 has been sequenced. The application of this discovery, however, still is not fully realized in breeding programs. Heterotic effects are unique for each hybrid and sequencing efforts on only B73 and others alike might limit the identification of useful and unique alleles (e.g. tropical and/or early maturing genetic backgrounds) for complex traits.