Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular Evidence and the Evolution of Maize

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this review, the contributions of isozyme and chloroplast DNA studies to questions surrounding the evolution of maize are summarized. These methods of analysis provide generally strong support for the hierarchical system of classification of Zea proposed by Iltis and Doebley (1980). Molecular evidence is fully congruent with the theory that teosinte is ancestral to maize and suggests thatZ. mays subsp.parviglumis was the ancestral teosinte taxon. Further, these data show that only those populations from the central region of the range of subsp. parviglumis resemble maize in both isozymic and chloroplast DNA constitution. Presuming no major changes in the distribution of subsp. parviglumis since the domestication of maize, these data would place the origin of maize in the Balsas River drainage southwest of Mexico City. Molecular systematic evidence provides no support for theories that maize was domesticated independently several times; however, this type of data can not disprove such theories. Analyses of isozyme and chloroplast DNA diversity in Zea provide evidence of limited gene flow between maize and teosinte, but are not consistent with models that postulate extensive genetic interchange between these taxa. Isozyme studies have added substantially to the understanding of evolutionary relationships among extant races of maize and suggest that there are a small number of major racial complexes in Meso- and North America which have often evolved in response to environmental constraints associated with altitude. Ultimately, molecular genetic studies may allow a resolution of the controversy surrounding the morphological evolution of the maize ear.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Anderson, E., and H. C. Cutler. 1942. Races ofZea mays: I. Their recognition and classification. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 29:69–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ascherson, P. 1875. UeberEuchlaena mexicana Schrad. Bot. Vereins Prov. Brandenburg 17: 76–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1880. Bemerkungen über ä stigen Maiskolben. Bot. Vereins Prov. Brandenburg 21:133–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, S. C. H. 1983. Crop mimicry in weeds. Econ. Bot. 37:255–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beadle, G. W. 1932. Studies ofEuchlaena and its hybrids withZea. I. Chromosome behavior inEuchlaena mexicana and hybrids withZea mays. Z. Indukt. Abstammungsl-Vererbungsl. 62:291–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1939.Teosinte and the origin of maize. J. Heredity 30:245–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1972. The mystery of maize. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 43:2–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1980. The ancestry of corn. Sci. Amer. 242:112–119, 162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benz, B. 1986. Taxonomy and evolution of Mexican maize. Ph.D. Dissertation, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, 446 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benz, B. 1987. Racial systematics and the evolution of Mexican maize. Pages 121–136in L. Manzanilla, ed., Studies in the neolithic and urban revolutions: the V. Gordon Childe Colloquium, Mexico, 1986. B.A.R. International Series 349, Oxford, England.

  • Bird, R. McK. 1980. Maize evolution from 500 B.C. to the present. Biotropica 12:30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bretting, P. K., M. M. Goodman, and C. W. Stuber. 1987. Karyological and isozyme variation in West Indian and allied American mainland races of maize. Amer. J. Bot. 74:1601–1613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • -, -, and -. {dy1990}. Isozymatic variation in Guatemalan races of maize. Amer. J. Bot. (in press).

  • Brown, W. L., and E. Anderson. 1947. The northern flint corns. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 34:1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and —. 1948. The southern dent corns. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 35:255–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, W. L., and M. M. Goodman. 1977. Races of corn. Pages 49–88in G. F. Sprague, ed., Corn and corn improvement. Amer. Soc. Agronomy, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, G. N. 1921. Teosinte in Mexico. J. Heredity 12:339–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1931. Thephylogeny of maize. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 57:199–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, D. J. 1983. Phylogenetic and systematic inferences from electrophoretic studies. Pages 257–287in S. D. Tanksley and T. J. Orton, eds., Isozymes in plant genetics and breeding, Part A. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Wet, J. M. J., and J. R. Harlan. 1972. Origin of maize: tripartite hypothesis. Euphytica 21:271–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doebley, J. 1983a. The maize and teosinte male inflorescence: a numerical taxonomic study. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 70:32–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1983b. The taxonomy and evolution ofTripsacum and teosinte, the closest relatives of maize. Pages 15–28in D. T. Gordon, J. K. Knoke, and L. R. Nault, eds., Proc. intl. maize virus disease colloquium and workshop. The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1984. Maize introgression into teosinte—a reappraisal. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 71:1100–1113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1989. Isozymic evidence and the evolution of crop plants. Pages 165–191in D. Soltis and P. Soltis, eds., Isozymes in plant biology. Dioscorides Press, Portland, OR.

    Google Scholar 

  • -. 1990. Molecular systematics ofZea (Gramineae). Maydica (in press).

  • —, M. M. Goodman, and C. W. Stuber. 1983. Isozyme variation in maize from the southwestern United States: taxonomic and anthropological implications. Maydica 28:94–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, and —. 1984. Isoenzymatic variation inZea (Gramineae). Syst. Bot. 9:203–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —,—, and —. 1985. Isozyme variation in the races of maize from Mexico. Amer. J.Bot. 72:629–639.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —,—, and —. 1986. Exceptional genetic divergence of Northern Flint Corn. Amer. J.Bot. 73:64–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, — and —. 1987a. Patterns of isozyme variation between maize and Mexican annual teosinte. Econ. Bot. 41:234–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and H. H. Iltis. 1980. Taxonomy ofZea (Gramineae). I. A subgeneric classification with key to taxa. Amer. J. Bot. 67:982–993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, W. Renfroe, and A. Blanton. 1987b. Restriction site variation in theZea chloroplast genome.Genetics 117:139–147.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, and P. Sisco. 1989. On the origin of the maize male sterile cytoplasms: it’s completely unimportant, that's why it's so interesting. Maize Genetics Corporation Newsletter 63:108–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, J. F. Wendel, J. S. C. Smith, C. W. Stuber, and M. M. Goodman. 1988. The origin of cornbelt maize: the isozyme evidence. Econ. Bot. 42:120–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galinat, W. C. 1973. Preserve Guatemalan teosinte, a relict link in corn’s evolution. Science 180: 323.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1983. The origin of maize as shown by key morphological traits of its ancestor, teosinte. Maydica 28:121–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1985. The missing links between teosinte and maize: a review. Maydica 30:137–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and R. G. Campbell. 1967. The diffusion of eight rowed maize from the Southwest to the Central Plains. Mass. Agric. Exp. Sta. Monogr. Ser. 1:1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and J. H. Gunnerson. 1963. Spread of eight-rowed maize from the prehistoric Southwest. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 20:117–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, M. M., and C. W. Stuber. 1983a. Maize. Pages 1–33in S. D. Tanksley and T. J. Orton, eds., Isozymes in plant genetics and breeding, Part B. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and —. 1983b. Races of maize. VI. Isozyme variation among races of maize in Bolivia.Maydica 28:169–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán, R. 1978. Una nueva localidad para el teosinteZea perennis y primer reporte deZea mexicana para Jalisco. Bol. Inform. Inst. Bot., Univ. de Guadalajara 6:9–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1982. El teosinte en Jalisco: su distribución y ecología. Ingeniera Agronomo Tesis, Escuela de Agriculture, Univ. de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harshberger, J. W. 1896. Fertile crosses of teosinte and maize. Gard. & Forest 9:522–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiser, C. 1973. Introgression re-examined. Bot. Rev. (Lancaster) 39:347–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitchcock, A. S. 1922. A perennial species of teosinte. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 12:205–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iltis, H. H. 1983. From teosinte to maize: the catastrophic sexual transmutation. Science 222:886–894.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iltis, H. H.. 1987. Maize evolution and agricultural origins. Pages 195-213in T. Soderstrom, K. Hilu,C. Campbell, and M. Barkworth, eds., Grass systematics and evolution. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and J. F. Doebley. 1980. Taxonomy of Zea (Gramineae). II. Subspecific categories in theZea mays complex and a generic synopsis. Amer. J. Bot. 67:994–1004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and —. 1984.Zea—a biosystematical Odyssey. Pages 587–616in W. F. Grant, ed., Plant biosystematics. Academic Press, Ontario, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,—, R. Guzman, and B. Pazy. 1979.Zea diploperennis (Gramineae): a new teosinte from Mexico. Science 203:186–188.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, D. A. Kolterman, and B. Benz. 1986. Accurate documentation of germplasm: the lost Guatemalan teosintes (Zea, Gramineae). Econ. Bot. 40:69–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kato, T. A. 1976. Cytological studies of maize. Mass. Agric. Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. No. 635.

  • — 1984. Chromosome morphology and the origin of maize and its races. Evol. Biol. 17:219–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladizinsky, G. 1985. Founder effect in crop plant evolution. Econ. Bot. 39:191–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangelsdorf, P. C. 1974. Corn: its origin, evolution and improvement. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1983. The mystery of corn: new perspectives. Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 127:215–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1986. The origin of corn. Sci. Amer. 254:80–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and W. C. Galinat. 1964. The tunicate locus in maize dissected and reconstituted. Proc.Natl. Acad. U.S.A. 51:147–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • -, and R. G. Reeves. 1939. The origin of Indian corn and its relatives. Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 574.

  • McClintock, B. 1959. Chromosome constitutions of Mexican and Guatemalan races of maize. Annual Rep. Dept. Genet. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 59:461–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • -, T. A. Kato Y., and A. Blumenschein. 1981. Chromosome constitution of races of maize. Colegio de Postgraduados, Chapingo, Mexico.

  • Montgomery, E. G. 1906. What is an ear of corn? Popular Sci. Monthly 68:55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1913. The corn crops. MacMillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nei, M. 1972. Genetic distance between populations. Amer. Naturalist 106:283–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randolph, L. F. 1959. The origin of maize. Indian J. Genet. PL Breed. 19:1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, R. G., and P. C. Mangelsdorf. 1942. A proposed taxonomic change in the tribe Maydeae (family Gramineae). Amer. J. Bot. 29:815–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rick, C, R. W. Zobel, and J. F. Fobes. 1974. Four peroxidase loci in red-fruited tomato species: genetics and geographic distribution. Proc. Natl. Acad. U.S.A. 71:835–839.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Hilaire, A. de. 1829. Lettre sur une variété remarquable de maïs du Brésil. Ann. Sci. Nat.(Paris) 16:143–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez G., J., and L. Ordaz S. 1987. El teosinte en México: distribución actual de las poblaciones. International Board for Plant Genetics Resources, Systematic and Ecogeographic Studies on Crop Genepools No. 2.

  • Schrader, H. 1833. In Litteratur. Linnaea (Berlin) 1833:25–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. S. C., M. M. Goodman, and C. W. Stuber. 1984. Variation within teosinte. III. Numerical analysis of allozyme data. Econ. Bot. 38:97–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, and —. 1985. Relationships between maize and teosinte of Mexico and Guatemala:numerical analysis of allozyme data. Econ. Bot. 39:12–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuber, C. W., and M. M. Goodman. 1983. Allozyme genotypes for popular and historically important inbred lines of corn,Zea mays L. USDA Agric. Res. Results, Southern Series 16, New Orleans, LA.

  • Sturtevant, E. L. 1899. Varieties of corn. U.S.D.A. Off. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 57.

  • Sundberg, M. D. 1987. Development of the mixed inflorescences inZea diploperennis Iltis, Doebley and Guzman (Poaceae). J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 95:207–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and A. R. Orr. 1986. Early inflorescence and floral development inZea diploperennis, diploperennial teosinte. Amer. J. Bot. 73:1699–1712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timothy, D. H., C. S. Levings, D. R. Pring, M. F. Conde, and J. L. Kermicle. 1979. Organelle DNA variation and systematic relationships in the genusZea: teosinte. Proc. Natl. Acad. U.S.A. 76:4220–4224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • von Post, T., and O. Kuntze. 1904. Lexicon generum phanerogamarum. Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H. A., and W. L. Brown. 1956. Corn and its early fathers. Michigan State Univ. Press, East Lansing, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weatherwax, P. 1935. The phytogeny ofZea mays. Amer. Midi. Naturalist 16:1–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weissinger, A. K., D. H. Timothy, C. S. Levings III, and M. M. Goodman. 1983. Patterns of mitochondrial DNA variation in indigenous maize races of Latin America. Genetics 104:365–379.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wellhausen, E. J., A. Fuentes O., and A. Hernández C. (in collaboration with P. C. Mangelsdorf). 1957. Races of maize in Central America. Natl. Res. Council Publ. 511.

  • —, L. M. Roberts, and E. Hernández X. (in collaboration with P. C. Mangelsdorf). 1952. Races of maize in Mexico. Bussey Inst, Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkes, H. G. 1967. Teosinte: the closest relative of maize. Bussey Inst., Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1970. Teosinte introgression in the maize of the Nobogame valley. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 22:297–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1977. Hybridization of maize and teosinte in Mexico and Guatemala and the improvement of maize. Econ. Bot. 31:254–293.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, 55108, St. Paul, MN

    John Doebley

Authors
  1. John Doebley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doebley, J. Molecular Evidence and the Evolution of Maize. Econ Bot 44 (Suppl 3), 6–27 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860472

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860472

Keywords

Search

Navigation