Inter- and intra-population variation of local maize (Zea mays L.) populations from Slovakia and Czech Republic

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) was introduced into Europe at the end of the 15 th century by the expedition of Christopher Columbus. Dissemination from Spain, associated transmission over the old continent from different parts of America, and subsequent maize exploitation during the next five centuries contributed to the establishment of native maize genetic diversity in Europe. Even though the genetic variation of American populations will probably remain higher forever in comparison with European maize, alleles specific to European populations also emerged during adaptation to the local climate and environment (Rebourg et al. 2003). Contrasting climate, soils, agronomical practices, and breeder's effort created local populations progressively cultivated in favourable European regions. Local populations were grown by the end of the forties of the 20 th century. After World War Two traditional local maize populations (landraces, obsolete cultivars) were progressively replaced by agronomically improved hybrids. At the same time there were efforts to preserve traditional populations (landraces) and collections of maize genetic resources were established in different countries. The maintenance of genetic resource collections is necessarily associated with relevant evaluation and characterization of genetic diversity. The maize germplasm belongs to the most studied. Extensive evaluations of morphological traits were complemented later by isoenzyme markers as the first type of applied molecular markers. Many laboratories have been investigating the polymorphic isoenzyme patterns in plants for more than twenty years (Brown 1979

Potentials to breed for improved fibre digestibility in temperate Czech maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm

“…This property, therefore, suggests the uNDF methodology to satisfy the key prerequisite of a broad value range, to be an appropriate method for comparing the digestibility of forages, and providing meaningful information across a wide range of animals and crops (Allen et al 2003). Additionally, due to its focus towards the NDF fraction, the uNDF methodology offers the chance to screen for yet unknown favourable alleles within locally adapted landraces using modern pre-breeding schemes (Mudry & Kraic 2007;Geiger 2009). Modern maize germplasm, fortified with such favourable alleles, might, next to the agronomic potential, also have a substantial impact within the global warming context.…”

The Bioindicative Role of Enzyme Polymorphism of Seven Enzyme Systems as Reaction on High Cadmium Ions Concentration in Maize (Zea Mays L.)

“…The group of seven enzymes which were chosen for our experimental work represents those which are very frequently used by many laboratories in the world for checking genotypic variability, identity and homogeneity of most of plant species (maize - Múdry & Kraic 2007;Stuber et al 1988;chickpea -Múdry et al 1998;amaranth -Chan & Sun 1997;Múdry et al 2011;Yudina et al 2010;oats -Gonzáles-Andrés et al 2005;sunflower -Carrera et al 2002, Rosmarinus-Zaouali & Boussaid 2008. For these purposes mostly standardized methods for enzyme polymorphism analysis are used to avoid undesirable factors affecting the results (Múdry et al 2011).…”

“…The standard technique (for coleoptilar section) of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis described by Stuber with co-workers (Stuber et al 1988) and recently published in our works (Múdry & Juráček 2001;Múdry & Kraic, 2007;Uváčková et al 2008) was used for analysis of polymorphism in acid phosphatase (aCP, E.C. 3.1.3.2), alcohol dehydrogenase (aDh, E.C.…”