title: Fast-Flowering Mini-Maize: Seed to Seed in 60 Days.
abstract: Two lines of Zea mays were developed as a short-generation model for maize. The Fast-Flowering Mini-Maize (FFMM) lines A and B are robust inbred lines with a significantly shorter generation time, much smaller stature, and better greenhouse adaptation than traditional maize varieties. Five generations a year are typical. FFMM is the result of a modified double-cross hybrid between four fast-flowering lines: Neuffer's Early ACR (full color), Alexander's Early Early Synthetic, Tom Thumb Popcorn, and Gaspe Flint, followed by selection for early flowering and desirable morphology throughout an 11-generation selfing regime. Lines A and B were derived from different progeny of the initial hybrid, and crosses between Mini-Maize A and B exhibit heterosis. The ancestry of each genomic region of Mini-Maize A and B was inferred from the four founder populations using genotyping by sequencing. Other genetic and genomic tools for these lines include karyotypes for both lines A and B, kernel genetic markers y1 (white endosperm) and R1-scm2 (purple endosperm and embryo) introgressed into Mini-Maize A, and ∼24× whole-genome resequencing data for Mini-Maize A.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.
authors.forename: Morgan E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0071-8712
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McCaw
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8937-6543
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.
authors.forename: Patrice S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
authors.forename: Edward S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3100-371X
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Buckler
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211 birchlerj@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: James A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3643-2756
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Birchler
mesh_terms: D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006823:Hybrid Vigor; D059785:Karyotype; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Zea mays; flowering time; heterosis; maize; model system