The B73 Maize Genome: Complexity, Diversity, and Dynamics
Authors: Schnable Patrick S. , Ware Doreen , Fulton Robert S. , Stein Joshua C. , Wei Fusheng , Pasternak Shiran , Liang Chengzhi , Zhang Jianwei , Fulton Lucinda , Graves Tina A. , Minx Patrick , Reily Amy Denise , Courtney Laura , Kruchowski Scott S. , Tomlinson Chad , Strong Cindy , Delehaunty Kim , Fronick Catrina , Courtney Bill , Rock Susan M. , Belter Eddie , Du Feiyu , Kim Kyung , Abbott Rachel M. , Cotton Marc , Levy Andy , Marchetto Pamela , Ochoa Kerri , Jackson Stephanie M. , Gillam Barbara , Chen Weizu , Yan Le , Higginbotham Jamey , Cardenas Marco , Waligorski Jason , Applebaum Elizabeth , Phelps Lindsey , Falcone Jason , Kanchi Krishna , Thane Thynn , Scimone Adam , Thane Nay , Henke Jessica , Wang Tom , Ruppert Jessica , Shah Neha , Rotter Kelsi , Hodges Jennifer , Ingenthron Elizabeth , Cordes Matt , Kohlberg Sara , Sgro Jennifer , Delgado Brandon , Mead Kelly , Chinwalla Asif , Leonard Shawn , Crouse Kevin , Collura Kristi , Kudrna Dave , Currie Jennifer , He Ruifeng , Angelova Angelina , Rajasekar Shanmugam , Mueller Teri , Lomeli Rene , Scara Gabriel , Ko Ara , Delaney Krista , Wissotski Marina , Lopez Georgina , Campos David , Braidotti Michele , Ashley Elizabeth , Golser Wolfgang , Kim HyeRan , Lee Seunghee , Lin Jinke , Dujmic Zeljko , Kim Woojin , Talag Jayson , Zuccolo Andrea , Fan Chuanzhu , Sebastian Aswathy , Kramer Melissa , Spiegel Lori , Nascimento Lidia , Zutavern Theresa , Miller Beth , Ambroise Claude , Muller Stephanie , Spooner Will , Narechania Apurva , Ren Liya , Wei Sharon , Kumari Sunita , Faga Ben , Levy Michael J. , McMahan Linda , Van Buren Peter , Vaughn Matthew W. , Ying Kai , Yeh Cheng-Ting , Emrich Scott J. , Jia Yi , Kalyanaraman Ananth , Hsia An-Ping , Barbazuk W. Brad , Baucom Regina S. , Brutnell Thomas P. , Carpita Nicholas C. , Chaparro Cristian , Chia Jer-Ming , Deragon Jean-Marc , Estill James C. , Fu Yan , Jeddeloh Jeffrey A. , Han Yujun , Lee Hyeran , Li Pinghua , Lisch Damon R. , Liu Sanzhen , Liu Zhijie , Nagel Dawn Holligan , McCann Maureen C. , SanMiguel Phillip , Myers Alan M. , Nettleton Dan , Nguyen John , Penning Bryan W. , Ponnala Lalit , Schneider Kevin L. , Schwartz David C. , Sharma Anupma , Soderlund Carol , Springer Nathan M. , Sun Qi , Wang Hao , Waterman Michael , Westerman Richard , Wolfgruber Thomas K. , Yang Lixing , Yu Yeisoo , Zhang Lifang , Zhou Shiguo , Zhu Qihui , Bennetzen Jeffrey L. , Dawe R. Kelly , Jiang Jiming , Jiang Ning , Presting Gernot G. , Wessler Susan R. , Aluru Srinivas , Martienssen Robert A. , Clifton Sandra W. , McCombie W. Richard , Wing Rod A. , Wilson Richard K. 
Published: November 2009

A-Maize-ing

Maize is one of our oldest and most important crops, having been domesticated approximately 9000 years ago in central Mexico.

Schnable
et al.

(p.
1112
; see the cover) present the results of sequencing the B73 inbred maize line. The findings elucidate how maize became diploid after an ancestral doubling of its chromosomes and reveals transposable element movement and activity and recombination.

Vielle-Calzada
et al.

(p.
1078
) have sequenced the
Palomero Toluqueño
(
Palomero
) landrace, a highland popcorn from Mexico, which, when compared to the B73 line, reveals multiple loci impacted by domestication.

Swanson-Wagner
et al.

(p.
1118
) exploit possession of the genome to analyze expression differences occurring between lines. The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations among lines was used by

Gore
et al.

(p.
1115
) to generate a Haplotype map of maize. While chromosomal diversity in maize is high, it is likely that recombination is the major force affecting the levels of heterozygosity in maize. The availability of the maize genome will help to guide future agricultural and biofuel applications (see the Perspective by

Feuillet and Eversole

).