EDGAR ANDERSON 



Missouri Bofanical Garden 



and 



WILLIAM L. BROWN 



Pioneer Hybrid Corn Company 



Chapter 8 



Origin of Corn Belt Moize and Its 



Genetic Significance 



Several ends were in view when a general survey of the races and varieties of 

 Zea mays was initiated somewhat over a decade ago (Anderson and Cutler, 

 1942). Maize, along with Drosophila, had been one of the chief tools of mod- 

 ern genetics. If one were to use the results of maize genetics most efficiently 

 in building up general evolutionary theories, he needed to understand what 

 was general and what was peculiar in the make-up of Zea mays. Secondly, 

 since maize is one of the world's oldest and most important crops, it seemed 

 that a detailed understanding of Zea mays throughout its entire range might 

 be useful in interpreting the histories of the peoples who have and are using 

 it. Finally, since maize is one of our greatest national resources, a survey of its 

 kinds might well produce results of economic importance, either directly or 

 indirectly. 



Early in the survey it became apparent that one of the most significant 

 sub-problems was the origin and relationships of the common yellow dent 

 corns of the United States Corn Belt. Nothing exactly like them was known 

 elsewhere in the world. Their history, though embracing scarcely more than 

 a century, was imperfectly recorded and exasperatingly scattered. For some 

 time it seemed as if we might be able to treat the problem only inferentially, 

 from data derived from the inbred descendants of these same golden dent 

 corns. Finally, however, we have been able to put together an encouragingly 

 complete history of this important group of maize varieties, and to confirm 

 our historical research with genetical and cytological evidence. 



An even approximate survey of Zea way.s-as-a-whole remains a goal for 



124 



