Maize functional genomics research and genetic improvement strategies have been greatly accelerated and refined through the development and utilization of genetic transformation systems. Maize transformation is a composite technology based on decades’ efforts in optimizing multiple factors involving microbiology and physical/biochemical DNA delivery, as well as cellular and molecular biology. This review provides a historical reflection on the development of maize transformation technology including the early failures and successful milestones. It also provides a current perspective on the understanding of tissue culture responses and their impact on plant regeneration, the pros and cons of different DNA delivery methods, the identification of a palette of selectable/screenable markers, and most recently the development of growth-stimulating or morphogenic genes to improve efficiencies and extend the range of transformable genotypes. Steady research progress in these interdependent components has been punctuated by benchmark reports celebrating the progress in maize transformation, which invariably relied on a large volume of supporting research that contributed to each step and to the current state of the art. The recent explosive use of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has heightened the demand for higher transformation efficiencies, especially for important inbreds, to support increasingly sophisticated and complicated genomic modifications, in a manner that is widely accessible. These trends place an urgent demand on taking maize transformation to the next level, presaging a new generation of improvements on the horizon. Once realized, we anticipate a near-future where readily accessible, genotype-independent maize transformation, together with advanced genomics, genome editing, and accelerated breeding, will contribute to world agriculture and global food security.

通过遗传转化系统的开发和利用，玉米功能基因组学研究和遗传改良策略得到了极大的加速和完善。玉米转化是一项综合技术，基于数十年来优化多种因素的努力，涉及微生物学、物理/生化 DNA 传递以及细胞和分子生物学。这篇综述提供了对玉米转化技术发展的历史反思，包括早期的失败和成功的里程碑。它还提供了对组织培养反应及其对植物再生的影响的理解、不同 DNA 传递方法的优缺点、选择性/筛选标记调色板的识别以及最近生长刺激剂的开发的当前观点。或形态发生基因，以提高效率并扩大可转化基因型的范围。这些相互依赖的组成部分的稳定研究进展被庆祝玉米转化进展的基准报告所打断，这些报告总是依赖于大量的支持性研究，这些研究对每一步和当前的技术水平做出了贡献。最近 CRISPR/Cas9 介导的基因组编辑的爆炸性使用提高了对更高转化效率的需求，特别是对于重要的近交系，以一种可广泛使用的方式支持日益复杂的基因组修饰。这些趋势迫切要求将玉米转型提升到一个新的水平，预示着新一代的改进即将到来。 一旦实现，我们预计在不久的将来，容易获得的、与基因型无关的玉米转化，加上先进的基因组学、基因组编辑和加速育种，将为世界农业和全球粮食安全做出贡献。