To: Anyone who has any suggestions:
I am a phytolith analyst, and I work on phytoliths produced in the fruitcase
of teosinte and the glumes of maize. I have found that different varieties
of Zea mays produce different assemblages of phytolith shapes on a very
consistent basis.
In building a database of assemblages recovered from identified teosinte
accessions, I discovered that the phytolith assemblage from PI 422162 is very
similar to the assemblages produced by luxurians accessions, and not similar
to those of mexicana, even though that is what it is labeled.
This accession was obtained before 1965, when it would have been called
either mexicana or perenial teosinte.
Anyone with any information to share on this accession, please share it with
me. If there is anyone doing some genetic lineage comparisons that would be
willing to include a couple of samples from this accession that would be
great. Any info at all would be helpful.
My research involves demonstrating the relationship between phytolith
assemblages and genetics, but I study the statistical comparison of phytolith
shapes and assemblages, and must rely on the genetics community for genetic
analysis. So, I consider the ball to be in your court, so to speak, and
politely ask for some aid. I can probably obtain some limited funding for an
analysis. Even knowing the history of this accession would be great.
Bob
