Jin Zhou , Minli Xu

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 5   
Received: 03 Aug., 2024    Accepted: 17 Sep., 2024    Published: 08 Oct., 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.

Comparative genomics of maize (Zea mays) has provided transformative insights into the evolutionary processes and functional mechanisms that have shaped this important crop. Through the analysis of whole-genome sequences, gene family expansions, and structural variations, researchers have deepened their understanding of maize's domestication, adaptation, and diversification. Key findings include the identification of conserved regulatory elements that play critical roles in gene expression, the impact of gene duplication events that have led to functional diversification, and the discovery of genomic regions linked to traits such as yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. These studies have also revealed the evolutionary relationships between maize and other members of the grass family (Poaceae), contributing to a broader understanding of plant evolution. The application of these findings extends to maize breeding and biotechnology, where genomic data is being used to develop more resilient and higher-yielding maize varieties. As genomic technologies such as CRISPR, pan-genomics, and multi-omics integration continue to advance, the field of maize comparative genomics is poised to play a critical role in addressing future challenges in agriculture and food security.

Comparative genomics; Maize evolution; Gene duplication; Domestication; Maize breeding