Teosinte, the wild progenitor of maize, has immense potential for providing unique traits and is more divergent compared to inbred lines and landraces. One hundred and sixty-nine teosinte-introgressed maize backcross inbred lines were developed to widen the genetic base of maize with predomestication alleles. The population was evaluated phenotypically and genotypic data of 76 SSR markers were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) governing the targeted traits. Sixty-six QTLs were detected for eight plant architect-related traits that are spread over 10 different chromosomes with phenotypic variation ranging from 2.29 to 13.97%. Maximum three stable QTLs were recorded for days to anthesis (DA) followed by two for days to silking (DS), plant height (PH) and node bearing first ear (NBE). For rest of three traits namely flag leaf length (FLL), flag leaf width (FLW) and ears per plant (E/P) only one stable QTL was detected. Among the 16 common QTLs, the marker phi328178-linked QTL governed four characters (DA, DS, FLL, FLW) simultaneously, followed by umc1622-linked (ASI, FLW, E/P), umc2341-linked (DA, DS, NBE) and phi075-linked QTLs (ASI, PH, NBE) controlling three traits each. Remaining 12 QTLs controlled two characters. Molecular association between co-localized QTLs for different traits was also validated at the phenotypic level by significant correlation estimates. For eight studied traits, 53 superior lines were identified which along with parents (teosinte and maize inbred DI-103) were grouped into 12 clusters. Therefore, lines clustered independently can be combined to accumulate desirable traits for the improvement of maize.

Maize diversity is widespread in Mexico and it has been stewarded by campesinos in small communities until the present. With the arrival of transgenic maize, the objective of this study is to analyze possible scenarios that could result if genetically modified maize were not regulated and openly available in Mexico. By applying a simple logistic model based on the conditions of maize production in Mexico, the dispersion of transgenic maize in different situations within fields of farmers is described. In traditional open systems of freely exchanged seed within communities it is concluded that the most likely outcome of GM maize release is the incorporation of transgenes in the genome of Mexican germplasm and possibly in that of teosinte.

In southern Asia, Chilo auricilius Dudgeon, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Chilo polychrysus (Meyrick), Chilo suppressalis (Walker), Chilo suppressalis simplex (Butler), Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur), Chilo supermain and Chilo tumidicostalis Hampson are recorded as pests of cereal crops. Chilo partellus causes severe losses in maize, sorghum and rice; Chilo suppressalis, Chilo polychrysus and Chilo supermain are major pests of rice; Chilo auricilius causes damage on both rice and sugar-cane; and Chilo infuscatellus and Chilo sacchariphagus indicus are serious pests of sugar-cane. Chilo suppressalis simplex and Chilo tumidicostalis are minor pests of maize and sugar-cane, respectively. Some of these pyralid borers are minor pests of other cereal crops. The life and seasonal histories of these stem borers and various control measures against them practised in various countries of southern Asia are discussed. The natural enemies of various Chilo species in this region are also listed.