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Locally adapted maize landraces, which are associated with Native American groups, were traditionally planted deeply, reportedly up to 45 cm deep. Crop resources such as these should be evaluated for possible use in future sustainable farming practices. Cold temperatures often delay maize (Zea mays L.) planting in the Corn Belt, possibly reducing y...
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... characteristics and radicle, mesocotyl, and shoot lengths (see Figure 1) were documented in Chamber trials 1 and 2 to examine relationships among characteristics and emergence success. • Chamber trial 3 tested BSSS-53 and seven landraces, based on their perfor- mance in Chamber trial 1; only those landraces that exhibited > 50% emer- gence success from 25 cm were advanced to this study. ...
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... extracted seedling was rinsed in water to remove remaining sand. Radicle, mesocotyl, and shoot (to first leaf collar) lengths were measured (Figure 1). Each seedling was partitioned into seed remainder, radicle-plus-se- minal-roots, and shoot; shoot included all tissues above the seed. ...
Citations
... Likewise, the study allowed the observation of a positive correspondence between the two principal components (PC1 and PC2) and the GCA of the parents; that is, with a higher GCA of the parents in F 1 and F 2 , the association of the parents regarding the two principal components (PC1 and PC2) was higher and is similar to those obtained by other studies, where positive correlations were observed with the 1197AM (Pionner) corn in the field, OH, USA, for grain weight when a depth of 51 and 76 mm was established [52]. Therefore, the adjustments in the depth of sowing can improve the PCA of some genotypes, although the responses of grain yield can differ according to the soil type [56], as is the case of H-48, HS-2 and Promesa, ST34, ST11 and ST112 of Chalqueño race [57], IBM Syn10, B73, Mo17 [58], US13, Hopi, Navajo [59] and P11974M [47], which show a different response to the depth of sowing and soil, where the GCA of the LM-LC of some genotypes were associated with the speed and percentage of emergence and these were associated successively with the two principal components (PC1 and PC2) in the agricultural practice known as deep sowing, which is still used in semi-arid regions of Mexico [60] and in southwest USA [13]. Therefore, the parents (H-48, HS-2 and Promesa) with a higher GCA in LM-LC presented a greater relation with the two principal components, which suggests that LM-LC could be a response trait to stress from deep sowing [13]. ...
Corn germplasm with different mesocotyl elongation was characterized for High Valleys in Mexico by estimating the general combinatory aptitude (GCA), specific combinatory aptitude (SCA), heterosis (H), inbreeding depression (ID) and principal component aptitude (PCA), with the purpose of directing the improvement for deep sowing. The hypothesis was that the parents and crosses of mesocotyl present variability in seedling and adult plant traits based on deep sowing. The 36 F1 and F2 crosses—derived from nine parents, three with short mesocotyl (S), three medium (M) and three long (L), obtained through Griffing diallel II—plus the parents were planted in sand beds and polyethylene bags in a greenhouse during the spring–summer cycles of 2021 and 2022. The following traits were measured: length of mesocotyl (LM), length of coleoptile, total seedling dry matter and 10 cob traits in addition to total dry matter. In 11 of the 14 traits, there was a positive and significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05) between the GCA of the parents and their LM. The highest SCA, H and ID (p ≤ 0.05) were for crosses L × L for all the traits measured. When comparing the GCA/SCA proportions, this relation varied from 0.76 to 0.97, which points to practically equal additive effects with those of dominance; however, in parents and L × L crosses, this relation was on average 0.94, 1.07 in M × M, 0.22 in S × S and 0.36 in L × S. In both F1 and F2, the variation was explained by two principal components: 89.5% for GCA and 73.4% for SCA. In both generations, the parents with higher GCA were H-48, HS-2 and Promesa, the three with long mesocotyl, while those with the highest GCA were crosses between these three hybrids.
... The inhibition of corn seedling growth after emergence is attributed to the limited absorption of nitrogen at soil temperatures below 5 • C and phosphorus at temperatures below 12 • C [8]. In addition, these environmental conditions reduce the dry matter production of the organs that grow under the soil surface, such as mesocotyl, coleoptile and roots [8], and with this, the yield potential [9]. Consequently, frost and hail could also damage the crop during early sowing. ...
... Consequently, frost and hail could also damage the crop during early sowing. If the producers could sow seeds deeper and earlier in the spring, the period of the sowing season could be extended and the potential of damage from frosts would be reduced because the growth point would be underground for longer [9]. ...
... This result is similar to that of [35], which compared varieties and hybrids, and found that the elongation of the mesocotyl and the coleoptile of the Criollo Azul variety was higher than the hybrid SB 302 Beretsen. Other studies [9] found that the double hybrid US13 presented a lower elongation of the mesocotyl compared to the Hopi and Navajo varieties, which achieved an elongation of 36 and 30 cm, dimensions higher than those of the outstanding genotypes in this study. The seed size affected the biomass production of mesocotyl, coleoptile, root, aerial part, and total weight of the seedling (Table 1), when using the large seed with a difference of 11% for DWM, 34% for DWC ( Figure 4), 62% for DWR ( Figure 5), 50% for DWAP ( Figure 6) and 42% for DWT ( Figure 7). ...
The elongation of the mesocotyl and the coleoptile and other seedling traits were analyzed from 16 hybrids of two seed sizes, five varieties and a control. Sowing was conducted in sand beds during the S-F 2020 cycle, where nine genotypes were identified that differed in the elongation of the mesocotyl: long (H-48, HS-2 and Promesa); medium (H-44-H-52 and H-70); and short (H-49 AE, H-40 and H-32). A total of 36 possible crosses were obtained between these nine parents, which were established in the S-S 2021 cycle, and on sand beds. Results show that seed size affected (p< 0.05) the speed and percentage of emergence, the elongation of mesocotyl–coleoptile, the biomass and the heterosis in parents and their crosses. The H-48 hybrid presented greater speed and percentage of emergence and elongation of the mesocotyl and the coleoptile with both seed sizes. The highest dry weight of mesocotyl, coleoptile, roots, and leaves was found in the hybrids Promesa and H-48. The crosses between parents with contrasting mesocotyl presented superior elongation and dry weight (p ≤ 0.05) compared to their parents, with the long × long (1 × 2, 1 × 3 and 2 × 3) crosses standing out for all the traits measured. A strong positive association was obtained (p ≤ 0.01) between the elongation of the mesocotyl–coleoptile, the percentage of emergence, and the production of total dry matter in parents and their crosses.
... Differences in root architecture may play a role in nutrient acquisition and composition differences between landrace and hybrid maize, which should be explored in future research. Bousselot et al. (2017) measured higher root-to-shoot ratios in several Southwest landraces, including the Zuni maize grown in this experiment, compared with a hybrid dent maize. ...
Maize has sustained the Zuni and other peoples of the arid American Southwest for more than four millennia. In Zuni dryland agriculture, fields on alluvial fans and other valley-edge landforms are managed to receive supplemental water and nutrients by retaining storm runoff and associated sediment and organic material transported from adjoining uplands. An experiment with Zuni blue maize (Zea mays L.) and commercial hybrid maize was conducted in two Zuni fields to study traditional maize and its productivity as part of a larger study of Zuni agroecosystems. Following a closely related paper on maize growth and productivity, studies of maize nutrient composition and quality are presented here. More nutrient differences occurred between Zuni and hybrid maize than between runoff and other treatments. Zuni grain had higher concentrations of more nutrients than hybrid maize, and for several elements, there was an inverse pattern in grain vs. leaf nutrient concentration between cultivars. Zuni grain had a higher N (protein) concentration than hybrid maize, and a higher proportion of N in grain vs. leaf, indicating an ability to partition more N and other nutrients into grain. Parallel differences in maize and soil N and P were found between the two fields, though the cultivars had different P content patterns. Overall, agronomically sufficient concentrations of most nutrients were present across cultivars and treatments. Long-term production and nutrient management of maize grown without conventional irrigation or fertilization reflect a traditional agroecosystem that incorporates sustainable practices intended to maintain productivity with conservation of soil and water resources.
... The aim of this study was to understand the effect of low moisture gradient in the development of seedlings and to reveal variations in the mesocotyl elongation and the hydrotropic response of several maize hybrid seedlings, which might arise from their genetic variability in controlled conditions [18][19][20][21][22]32]. ...
... However, our assay system allows the analysis of several seedlings simultaneously, and we could change the planting depth of the seedlings, which is not possible in the system that simulates deep planting reported earlier by Bousselot et al. [32] and Nieto-Sotelo et al. [33]. ...
... The mesocotyl elongation of DTMA hybrids compared with mesocotyl elongation greater than 20 cm reported in native maize such as Hopi maize and some races of Palomero toluqueño turns out to be very low [32,48]. This trait places hybrids at a disadvantage since they do not have the capacity to take advantage of soil resources under the deep seeding practice and indicates the need to explore genetic diversity for the benefit of modern maize breeding [32,33,48]. ...
We designed and validated a test system that simulates a growth environment for Zea mays L. maize seedlings under conditions of low moisture gradient in darkness. This system allowed us to simultaneously measure mesocotyl elongation and the primary root hydrotropic response in seedlings before the emergence phase in a collection of maize hybrids. We found great variation in these two traits with statistically significant reduction of their elongations under the low moisture gradient condition that indicate the richness of maize genetic diversity. Hence, the objective of designing a new test system that evaluates the association between these underground traits with the potential use to measure other traits in maize seedlings related to early vigor was achieved.
... Indigenous people, the original caretakers of a given land, possess a wealth of inherent knowledge of heredity and genetics. Some Indigenous groups, such as the Navajo, have used such knowledge from time immemorial to recognize kinship and familial relationships, to interact with their environment, and to use complex breeding practices with livestock (e.g., sheep) and crops to yield favorable physical characteristics (Bousselot et al. 2017;Sponenberg and Taylor 2009). While these concepts are known collectively as "genetics" in contemporary Western science, among the Navajo people many concepts involving iiná bitł'ool (DNA; lit. ...
To date, some genetic studies offer medical benefits but lack a clear pathway to benefit for people from underrepresented backgrounds. Historically, Indigenous people, including the Diné (Navajo people), have raised concerns about the lack of benefits, misuse of DNA samples, lack of consultation, and ignoring of cultural and traditional ways of knowing. Shortly after the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board was established in 1996, the Navajo Nation recognized growing concerns about genetic research, and in 2002 they established a moratorium on human genetic research studies. The moratorium effectively has protected their citizens from potential genetic research harms. Despite the placement of the moratorium, some genetic research studies have continued using blood and DNA samples from Navajo people. To understand the history of genetic research involving Navajo people, the authors conducted a literature review of genetic or genetics-related research publications that involved Navajo people, identifying 79 articles from the years 1926 to 2018. To their knowledge, no known literature review has comprehensively examined the history of genetic research in the Navajo community. This review divides the genetic research articles into the following general classifications: bacteria or virus genetics, blood and human leukocyte antigens, complex diseases, forensics, hereditary diseases, and population genetics and migration. The authors evaluated the methods reported in each article, described the number of Navajo individuals reported, recorded the academic and tribal approval statements, and noted whether the study considered Diné cultural values. Several studies focused on severe combined immunodeficiency disease, population history, neuropathy, albinism, and eye and skin disorders that affect Navajo people. The authors contextualize Diné ways of knowing related to genetics and health with Western scientific concepts to acknowledge the complex philosophy and belief system that guides Diné people and recognizes Indigenous science. They also encourage researchers to consider cultural perspectives and traditional knowledge that has the potential to create stronger conclusions and better-informed, ethical, and respectful science.
... Yet both Zuni and Hybrid maize in this experiment produced reasonable yields on precipitation alone. Nevertheless, some traditional Southwest maize cultivars seem more adapted to arid conditions; for example, with the ability to be planted deeper and to have more extensive root systems (Bousselot et al. 2017). More research is needed on this important question of Southwest maize adaptation (Adams 2015). ...
Maize has sustained the Zuni and other people in the arid American Southwest for many generations. In the traditional Zuni dryland agricultural system, fields are carefully placed on valley-edge landforms to tap into watershed hydrologic and ecosystem processes. In these geomorphic positions, field soils are managed to receive supplemental water and nutrients for crops by retaining storm runoff transported from adjoining uplands. Crop experiments were conducted to examine the effects of runoff on maize (Zea mays) productivity. Productivity of a Zuni maize cultivar and modern hybrid maize was evaluated with five treatment combinations of water and nutrient input sources in two traditional agricultural areas that have been cultivated for at least 1000 years. During the first year of the two-year experiment (1997-1998), one field received inputs from four runoff events, while the other field, with a larger watershed, received no runoff. In year two, the one remaining field (the other field was disrupted) had inputs from one runoff event. Growing season precipitation was above average for both years of the experiment. All treatments, including those receiving only precipitation, produced grain yields ranging from 852 to 3467 kg ha⁻¹ for Zuni maize. Grain and biomass productivity tended to be greater in the irrigation-plus-fertilizer control treatment. Productivity differences among treatments are attributed primarily to differences in water inputs rather than nutrient supply. Although the more densely populated hybrid maize out-yielded Zuni maize on a land area basis, Zuni maize produced greater yields per plant and more biomass than did the hybrid maize.
... The planting hole can be as much as 30 cm (~12 inches) deep. On the Hopi Mesas, planting is often deeper (as deep as 40-45 cm; Bousselot et al. 2017;Dominguez and Kolm 2005:755-756); the Hopi farmers described digging a hole just until the soil at the bottom of the hole feels or appears moist. When soil removed from the hole is replaced, care is taken to put the moist sediments from the bottom of the hole on top of the seeds and driest soil on top where it serves as a dust mulch. ...
In agrarian societies, such as the ancestral Pueblo of the Four Corners region of the US Southwest (c. AD 600-1300), the resilience of crops in the face of climate challenges was of paramount concern. Consequently, students of these societies have invested much effort in modeling the response of traditional crops to ancient weather patterns. Less effort has been made to evaluate the quality of those reconstructions with experimental studies. Here, we report on results from the Pueblo Farming Project (PFP), a long-term collaboration between the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and the Hopi tribe. From 2009 through 2015, PFP researchers and members of the Hopi tribe planted four experimental gardens of Hopi maize (Zea mays) on Crow Canyon's campus in southwestern Colorado using traditional methods. PFP researchers recorded growth progress over the growing season, harvested the corn, measured characteristics of the resulting crop, and derived yield estimates. We present the results of the garden experiments and we compare experimental yields with computational estimates of potential maize yield developed by the Village Ecodynamics Project (VEP). We find that Hopi maize flourishes in this part of the Hopi ancestral land and that PFP experimental yields are highly correlated with VEP yield estimates. We suggest that these PFP data may be used to refine existing maize paleoproductivity estimates, and we propose future directions for farming experiments in the Four Corners.
An agricultural suitability study for a 3,923 km² area encompassing Chaco Canyon and the surrounding San Juan Basin in northwest New Mexico is presented with implications for farming during the great house period, ca. AD 850 to 1150 (Bonito Phase). The GIS-based analysis expands previous studies of a smaller geographical area and includes additional variables related to hydrology, soils and vegetation, as well as new or updated data sources for those variables. The results indicate that the largest great houses and surrounding communities were located in extensive areas of highly suitable agricultural lands and also point to previously unrecognized potential agricultural lands in nearby tributary drainages.
