Compilation of N.A Maize Breeding Germplasm

Compilation of N.A Maize Breeding Germplasm

pMaize is the most important crop plant in the Western Hemisphere and among the the top three food plants world wide. In addition to its efficiency in providing energy to a hungry world it is unsurpassed in its versatility. Specific types of maize are popular as vegetables and snackfoods, while others have myriad industrial uses. Maize is an important organism for fundamental research, especially in the fields of genetics, cytogenetics, quantitative genetics, and molecular biology. Researchers in all these areas often need to know the pedigrees of the particular strains with which they are working. However, such information is scattered, fragmentary, and often inaccessible. Hybrid maize and the development of inbreds are relatively recent technologies. The maize breeders who developed first cycle inbreds and recall the widespread use of open-pollinated varieties have acted as historians. As that generation passes the need for a written record has become clear.