Xian Zhang , Minli Xu

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3   
Received: 19 Apr., 2024    Accepted: 27 May, 2024    Published: 08 Jun., 2024

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.

Maize (Zea mays L.) exhibits remarkable adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, a trait that has been extensively studied to understand its genetic underpinnings. This study synthesizes current research on the genetic basis of maize adaptation to various climates, focusing on key genomic regions and alleles associated with traits such as flowering time, drought tolerance, and cold resistance. Studies have highlighted the role of specific genes, such as Dwarf8 and Vgt2, in facilitating adaptation through diversifying selection and polygenic selection mechanisms. The evolutionary dynamics of maize adaptation involve both short-term and long-term processes, with significant contributions from admixture and independent introductions. Additionally, landraces play a crucial role in climate change adaptation, offering a reservoir of genetic diversity that can be harnessed for breeding stress-tolerant cultivars. This study underscores the importance of integrating genomic insights with traditional breeding practices to develop maize varieties capable of thriving under future climate scenarios.

Maize (Zea mays L.); Climatic adaptation; Genetic underpinnings; Dwarf8; Vgt2