Standing variation and new mutations both contribute to a fast response to selection for flowering time in maize inbreds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In order to investigate the rate and limits of the response to selection from highly inbred genetic material and evaluate the respective contribution of standing variation and new mutations, we conducted a divergent selection experiment from maize inbred lines in open-field conditions during 7 years. Two maize commercial seed lots considered as inbred lines, F252 and MBS847, constituted two biological replicates of the experiment. In each replicate, we derived an Early and a Late population by selecting and selfing the earliest and the latest individuals, respectively, to produce the next generation.

Results

All populations, except the Early MBS847, responded to selection despite a short number of generations and a small effective population size. Part of the resp

SUBMITTER: Durand E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2837650 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature