Zea mays Variation

The project will exploit and optimize next generation sequencing technologies as high-throughput genotyping assays for maize and sorghum varieties important to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other semi-arid tropical regions of the world. Using next generation sequencing technologies combined with high levels of multiplexing and very inexpensive sample preparation methods, we will establish a platform to provide 100,000 - 1 million markers per sample for a cost substantially below current field trials costs. This integrated platform will produce robust protocols for the entire pipeline from DNA preparation to bioinformatic analyses that are essential for genomic selection algorithms. Algorithms and software will be developed to determine allelism and genotypes without the need for reference genome sequence. Moreover, these approaches will be generalized so in the future any large number of individuals of any species can be genotyped with equal ease.