Abstract: Described herein are methods of identifying maize plants with an improved early plant vigor and early plant height. Further, described herein is a specific set of markers diagnostic for a chromosomal region of about or less than 0.68 Mb on chromosome 2 of Zea mays, the region defining a quantitative trait locus (QTL) locus that affects sensitivity to cold stress, early vigor and early plant height at stages V4 and V6 and maximum potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II. Also described herein are methods and means for detecting the desired phenotype. Finally, described herein are methods of using the QTL-bearing chromosomal region for the manufacture and/or identification of a plant of the genus Zea having early plant vigor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and molecular characterization as well as to the use of genes and markers from a chromosomal interval which has a locus for cold tolerance in maize. The invention further relates to the development of molecular markers for assisting in growth, in particular for preventing a fixing of a “selective sweep” in a region with a low recombination rate, and to the provision of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, in particular maize plants, which show a newly mediated or increased cold tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and molecular characterization as well as to the use of genes and markers from a chromosomal interval which has a locus for cold tolerance in maize. The invention further relates to the development of molecular markers for assisting in growth, in particular for preventing a fixing of a “selective sweep” in a region with a low recombination rate, and to the provision of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, in particular maize plants, which show a newly mediated or increased cold tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and molecular characterization as well as to the use of genes and markers from a chromosomal interval which has a locus for cold tolerance in maize. The invention further relates to the development of molecular markers for assisting in growth, in particular for preventing a fixing of a “selective sweep” in a region with a low recombination rate, and to the provision of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, in particular maize plants, which show a newly mediated or increased cold tolerance.