Varations in maize pollen emission and deposition in relation to microclimate.

The coexistence of genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional crops has become a subject of debate and inquiry. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most cultivated crop plants in the world and there is a need to assess the risks of cross-pollination.

Improvement of drought tolerance in maize: towards the functional validation of the Zm-Asr1 gene and increase of water use efficiency by over-expressing C4-PEPC.

Water availability is one of the major limiting factors for plant growth. Maize is particularly sensitive to water stress at reproductive stages with a strong impairment of photosynthesis and grain filling. Here, we describe the use of genetic transformation first to assess the role of a candidate gene Asr1-a putative transcription factor-as an explanation for genetically linked drought tolerance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), and second to modify CO(2) fixation rates in leaves through changes of C(4) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (C(4)-PEPC) activity.