M. B. Hufford

MaizeCODE reveals bi-directionally expressed enhancers that harbor molecular signatures of maize domestication.

The paper identifies bi-directionally expressed enhancers in maize with domestication signatures using integrated epigenomic and transcriptomic data from multiple tissues and inbred lines.

Inbreeding depression leads to reduced fitness in declining populations of wild maize

The study shows that inbreeding depression reduces fitness in wild maize populations, with larger, less disturbed populations showing higher genetic diversity and better fitness traits.

A happy accident: a novel turfgrass reference genome

The paper reports a novel reference genome for Poa pratensis, demonstrating its utility in studying genetic diversity and population structure.

The Streptochaeta genome and the evolution of the grasses

This paper sequences and annotates the Streptochaeta angustifolia genome, revealing insights into grass evolution, gene duplication, and small RNA regulation.

Portrait of a genus: the genetic diversity of Zea

This study maps genetic diversity across Zea species, identifying millions of variants and adaptive genes, and demonstrates their utility in breeding.

Demonstration of local adaptation of maize landraces by reciprocal transplantation

This study demonstrates local adaptation of maize landraces through reciprocal transplantation experiments, showing higher fitness at native elevations and phenotypic differences between Mexican and South American populations.

Evidence for Multiple Teosinte Hybrid Zones in Central Mexico

The paper identifies and confirms 112 hybrids between Zea mays ssp. parviglumis and Zea mays ssp. mexicana in Central Mexico, revealing three distinct hybrid groups with unique genetic architectures.

An adaptive teosinte mexicana introgression modulates phosphatidylcholine levels and is associated with maize flowering time

This study identifies an introgression from teosinte mexicana that affects HPC1, modulating phosphatidylcholine levels and influencing maize flowering time under low-temperature conditions.

Molecular Parallelism Underlies Convergent Highland Adaptation of Maize Landraces

This study identifies molecular parallelism in highland maize landraces, showing convergent adaptation through shared SNPs, genes, and pathways related to flowering time.

Single-gene resolution of locally adaptive genetic variation in Mexican maize

The paper identifies adaptive genetic loci in Mexican maize landraces by analyzing genotype-environment interactions across multiple environments, showing their potential for climate adaptation.

Evidence for a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in cereal crops

The paper identifies a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex in grasses, showing evidence of duplication and functional divergence in cereal crops.