Abstract

GUZMAN H, Manuel; SAN VICENTE G, Félix  and  DIAZ M, Daizi. Gene flow between tropical maize hybrids with different endosperm color. Bioagro [online]. 2008, vol.20, n.3, pp.159-166. ISSN 1316-3361.

Maize pollen (Zea mays L.) is easily wind-dispersed long distances and may cause gene flow between neighboring fields with flowering synchrony. Gene flow may lead to undesirable genetic variation. The objective of this study was to quantify gene flow between two maize hybrids with different endosperm color, grown under irrigation. The experiment was planted at the CENIAP experimental field in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela, during the period January-April 2006. The field layout consisted in a central square, planted with the yellow pollen source and four axes (North, South, East, and West) formed by 11 white maize subplots, for a maximum distance of 61 m. For the North and South axes, gene flow was 25.65 % and 5.80 % at 1 m distance; whereas for the maximum distance (51 m) out-cross was 0.79 % and  0 %, respectively. On the other hand, for the East and West axes, gene flow was 15.32 % y 13.35 % at 1 m distance, while for the maximum distance (61 m) out-cross was 0.42 % and 0.05 %, respectively. Gene flow decreased exponentially as the distance from the yellow pollen source increased. Wind pattern and turbulence effect influenced pollen transport. A mathematical model allowed the estimation of 100 m as a suitable distance to prevent cross-fertilization between two different genotypes (inbreds, populations, hybrids, wild relatives). Using appropriate mathematical models one could estimate isolation distances required to avoid undesirable gene flow.

Keywords : Flowering synchrony; tropical maize; hybrids; transgenic maize; wind.