Advancing Maize Improvement: A Review of Genetic Approaches and Breeding Strategies

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.), commonly known as corn, is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, significantly contributing to food security, livestock feed, and numerous industrial applications. Major advancements have been achieved in identifying and applying genetic strategies to enhance maize production, stress resilience, and nutritional quality. This article reviews traditional breeding techniques, including crossbreeding and recurrent selection, alongside modern genomic approaches such as marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9). These genomic tools complement traditional breeding to accelerate genetic improvement, enhance tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and support the development of climate-resilient maize cultivars. Additionally, the roles of molecular markers, doubled haploid technology, and transgenic methods in maize improvement are discussed. Critical issues such as genetic erosion, sustainability challenges, and the preservation of genetic diversity are also examined, emphasizing their importance in sustainable maize breeding programs. Emerging trends, including multi-omics approaches, artificial intelligence, and participatory breeding, are explored as innovative solutions to meet evolving global agricultural demands. This comprehensive analysis provides an overview of the current state of maize enhancement research and highlights potential directions for future advancements.