ABSTRACT
Genomic tools in recent years have provided novel approaches to the understanding of gene structure and regulation in maize hybrids, the functional allelic diversity, and their relationships with maize hybrid performance. This knowledge provides insights into possible mechanisms and paths of molecular evolution of hybrid maize allele variation and the results of historical breeding selection, and may help future commercial hybrid product development. Furthermore, transgenic biotechnology has been introduced in recent years to create novel genetic variation or traits, from initial herbicide and insecticide transgenics for control of weeds and insects, respectively (Estruch et al. 1997; Dill et al. 2008; Kumar et al. 2008; Duke 2011), to recent attempts with complex agronomic traits. Despite the challenges, transgenic approaches for complex trait improvement have made progress. We will discuss the opportunities in using transgenes for complex trait improvement and integration of the native variation and transgenics.
