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Effect of Recurrent Selection for Combining Ability with a Single‐Cross Tester in Maize 1
Author(s) -
Horner E. S.,
Lutrick M. C.,
Chapman W. H.,
Martin F. G.
Publication year - 1976
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/cropsci1976.0011183x001600010002x
Subject(s) - selection (genetic algorithm) , biology , grain yield , zea mays , yield (engineering) , population , agronomy , microbiology and biotechnology , artificial intelligence , computer science , demography , materials science , sociology , metallurgy
To obtain additional information on the effectiveness of recurrent selection for specific combining ability in maize ( Zea mays L.), we evaluated seven cycles of selection for combining ability with the single‐cross tester F44 ✕ F6. Grain yield, lodging resistance, and low ear height were the main selection criteria. Seed of the selected population from each cycle was stored and later evaluated for combining ability with the original tester, F44 ✕ F6, and with an unrelated synthetic. The evaluation with F44 ✕ F6 indicated that the seven cycles of selection resulted in 18% more grain yield, 9% lower ear height, and 35% less lodging. Performance was similar when the same selected populations were crossed with an unrelated synthetic. This suggests that gains for all traits resulted from increasing the frequency of genes with additive effects. These results and others previously reported for inbred testers suggest that narrow‐base testers are effective for improving general as well as specific combining ability, and that it is possible to change such testers in a recurrent selection program with little loss in accumulated improvement.