Welcome to the Maize Genetics COOP
The Maize Genetics Cooperation
Stock Center is operated by
USDA/ARS, located at the
University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, and integrated with the National Plant Germplasm System
(NPGS). We serve the maize research community by collecting, maintaining, and distributing seeds of maize genetic stocks. We also provide information about our stocks and the mutations they carry through the Maize Genetics and Genomics Database
(MaizeGDB).
Search Our Stocks
Try stock names (i.e. 123A) and mutant abbr. (i.e. kn1).
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Publication Highlights
Feb 7, 2025
Gibberellic acid (GA) is a phytohormone that is important for plant growth and development. Mutants in GA biosynthesis, signaling and metabolism have been critical to understanding the role GA plays in plants. GA mutants have also revolutionized global production of staple crops such as rice, wheat, and barley. GA mutants have been isolated in maize and characterization of the underlying genes has helped map the GA biosynthesis and signaling pathways. However, the number of maize dwarf mutants is far less than other species. Here, we identify new dwarf mutants that could benefit our understanding of maize plant height control.
Apr 18, 2024
Carotenoids perform a broad range of important functions in humans; therefore, carotenoid biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.), one of the most highly produced cereal crops worldwide, would have a global impact on human health. PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) genes play an important role in carotenoid metabolism; however, the possible function of PTOX in carotenoid biosynthesis in maize has not yet been explored. In this study, we characterized the maize PTOX locus by forward- and reverse-genetic analyses. While most higher plant species possess a single copy of the PTOX gene, maize carries two tandemly duplicated copies. Characterization of mutants revealed that disruption of either copy resulted in a carotenoid-deficient phenotype. We identified mutations in the PTOX genes as being causal of the classic maize mutant, albescent1. Remarkably, overexpression of ZmPTOX1 significantly improved the content of carotenoids, especially β-carotene (provitamin A), which was increased by ~threefold, in maize kernels. Overall, our study shows that maize PTOX locus plays an important role in carotenoid biosynthesis in maize kernels and suggests that fine-tuning the expression of this gene could improve the nutritional value of cereal grains.