This project will develop a web-based, general-use handbook, titled "A Field Guide to Maize Mutant Phenotypes". The guide will describe ~175 common mutant phenotypes of the maize (Zea mays L.) plant, each with a brief descriptive caption along with one or more photographs clearly showing the condition. The Field Guide will also have a short glossary of common maize terms and plant parts. Introductory material will discuss issues commonly encountered when attempting to describe observed mutations in the corn genetics field; for example, effects of background, nutrition, or disease. The Field Guide will be organized into logical phenotypic groups and include accurate definitions of the most common phenotypes of maize as well as photographs that clearly show each condition described.
The Field Guide will be an entry point for new researchers, from undergraduate students to postdoctoral researchers and established scientists whose expertise lies outside of maize research. It will serve as a resource for developing questions, and recognizing at a glance phenotypes commonly seen in the field. Because the Field Guide is image-based, it will provide a simple way for researchers and students working with other organisms, both plants and animals, to look for phenotypic similarities. The guide will be made available online through MaizeGDB (www.maizegdb.org/) for screen viewing and printing, and for download as an application for mobile devices.
Our online Guide to Maize Mutant Phenotypes (http://mutants.maizegdb.org) presents many mutant maize phenotypes that have been photographed and described by colleagues and myself (MGN) in my 65 years as a maize geneticist. The Guide is intended for a broad audience, from someone visiting a geneticist's corn field for the first time to established researchers who might want to compare an interesting plant variation with those previously described. Currently, over 800 high-quality images, representing over 350 phenotypes, have been selected to describe, as completely as possible, the diversity of expression in maize. Each phenotype has a brief definition and one good representative image, or in some cases (e. g. virescent, lesion) multiple images demonstrating the range of expression of that phenotype. Captions describe each picture in more detail, and in some cases include information such as effects of background, temperature, etc. The captions, phenotype definitions, and page names are searchable. There are also arrow keys that allow users to easily move back and forth between phenotype pages that are adjacent alphabetically without having to go up and down menus. An added feature is a "Perspective" page that discusses various aspects of this project throughout time and discusses a few mutagenic techniques and other topics. Definition: Phenotype - The characteristics of an organism based on the interaction between its genes and environment.
