Hybrid Decay: A Transgenerational Epigenetic Decline in Vigor and Viability Triggered in Backcross Populations of Teosinte with Maize.

ABSTRACT: In the course of generating populations of maize with teosinte chromosomal introgressions, an unusual sickly plant phenotype was noted in individuals from crosses with two teosinte accessions collected near Valle de Bravo, Mexico. The plants of these Bravo teosinte accessions appear phenotypically normal themselves and the F₁ plants appear similar to typical maize × teosinte F₁s. However, upon backcrossing to maize, the BC₁ and subsequent generations display a number of detrimental characteristics including shorter stature, reduced seed set, and abnormal floral structures. This phenomenon is observed in all BC individuals and there is no chromosomal segment linked to the sickly plant phenotype in advanced backcross generations. Once the sickly phenotype app

SUBMITTER: Xue W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6727801 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature