Maize introduction into Europe: the history reviewed in the light of molecular data

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 106; no. 5; pp. 895 - 903
• Main Authors: REBOURG, C, CHASTANET, M, GOUESNARD, B, WELCKER, C, DUBREUIL, P, CHARCOSSET, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-03-2003; Berlin Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Corn; Density; Europe; Evolution, Molecular; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene banks; Genetic markers; Genetic testing; Genetic Variation; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Geography; Germplasm; Life Sciences; North America; Phylogeny; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; South America; Vegetals; Zea mays - genetics; Europe; South America; North America; France; United States > US; Spain; Monocotyledones; Zea mays; Populations; Genetic marker; Diversity; Genetic diversity; Maize; Review; Molecular marker; Population genetics; Cereal crop; Molecular markers; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Molecular biology; Polymorphism; GENETIQUE; ADAPTATION CLIMATIQUE
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s00122-002-1140-9

The resolution that can be obtained from molecular genetic markers affords new prospects for understanding the dispersion of agricultural species from their primary origin centres. In order to study the introduction and the dispersion of maize in Europe, we have characterised a large and representative set of maize populations of both American and European origins for their variation at 29 restriction fragment length polymorphism loci. Polymorphism was higher for American populations than for European populations (respectively, 12.3 and 9.6 alleles per locus, on average), and only a few alleles were specific to European populations. Investigation of genetic similarity between populations from both continents made it possible to identify various types of American maize introduced into Europe at different times or in different places and which have given rise to distinctive European races. Beyond confirming the importance of Caribbean germplasm, the first maize type to be introduced into Europe, this research revealed that introductions of Northern American flint populations have played a key role in the adaptation of maize to the European climate. According to a detailed historical investigation, the introduction of these populations must have occurred shortly after the discovery of the New World.