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Recurrent Selection for Specific Combining Ability for Yield in Two Maize Populations 1
Author(s) -
Russell W. A.,
Eberhart S. A.,
Urbano A. Vega O.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1973.0011183x001300020032x
Subject(s) - biology , population , zea mays , grain yield , yield (engineering) , selection (genetic algorithm) , botany , agronomy , demography , materials science , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , metallurgy
This study evaluated recurrent selection for specific combining ability for yield in two maize ( Zea mays L.) populations and provided information on the types of gene action involved in the yield improvement. The populations for the recurrent selection program were an open‐pollinated variety, ‘Alph,’ and the F 2 of WF9 ✕ B7. Inbred B14 was the tester for both populations. The principal basis of selection was grain yield, and the selection intensity was 10 to 13% in each of five cycles. Ten S 1 lines were selected in each cycle and recombined to give a new population in each source. We evaluated progress by measuring yield in B14 ✕ Alph C n and B14 ✕ (WF9 ✕ B7)C n populations, C n populations per se , related and unrelated testers ✕ C n populations, and C n ✕ C n population crosses in six environments. In all types of populations the rates of gain per cycle were significant, and the gains were greater in Alph than in WF9 ✕ B7. Rates of gain per cycle (q/ha) in some comparisons were: B14 ✕ Alph C n , 3.09; B14 ✕ (WF9 ✕ B7)C n , 1.32; BSBB ✕ Alph C n , 3.63; BSBB ✕ (WF9 ✕ B7)C n , 1.51; and Alph C n ✕ (WF9 ✕ B7)C n , 4.09. In all types populations except B14 ✕ (WF9 ✕ B7)C n , the number ears per 100 plants increased. There were no significant changes for date of silk emergence or lodging, but there were some significant increases for percentage moisture at harvest and plant and ear heights. We concluded that overdominance and overdominant types of epistasis were relatively unimportant in the changes in yield potential of the two populations because the BSBB topcrosses improved as rapidly as the BI4 topcrosses, the C n ✕ C n crosses increased more rapidly than the B14 topcrosses, and the heterosis of the C n ✕ C n Crosses increased.