Baixin Song

Modern Agriculture Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Field Crop, 2025, Vol. 8, No. 4   
Received: 04 May, 2025    Accepted: 15 Jun., 2025    Published: 03 Jul., 2025

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.) is a vital staple crop worldwide, playing a critical role in global food security and agricultural sustainability. In this study, we analyzed the genetic structure and population differentiation of global maize germplasm by integrating studies on geographic origins, germplasm pool classification, and phenotypic diversity, and by evaluating methodologies such as molecular marker analysis (SSR, SNP, DArTseq), population genetics tools (STRUCTURE, PCA, AMOVA), and multi-omics data integration. We examined patterns of regional clustering, genetic admixture, and core collection identification, explored environmental and human-mediated factors driving differentiation, and discussed their implications for breeding and conservation. A case study comparing African and Latin American maize germplasm highlighted historical adaptation processes, diversity patterns, and cross-regional breeding opportunities. This study underscores the value of high-throughput sequencing, pan-genome approaches, and international collaboration for harnessing global maize diversity, with the expectation that such insights will guide future breeding programs aimed at enhancing resilience, productivity, and genetic conservation.

Maize germplasm; Genetic structure; Population differentiation; Molecular markers; Breeding strategies