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Diallel Analysis of Tolerance of Drying Injury in Seed Corn
Author(s) -
Bdliya P. M.,
Burris J. S.
Publication year - 1988
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/cropsci1988.0011183x002800060013x
Subject(s) - diallel cross , germination , biology , inbred strain , seedling , hybrid , zea mays , pollen , horticulture , moisture , maternal effect , agronomy , botany , pregnancy , biochemistry , materials science , genetics , offspring , composite material , gene
Exposure to high temperatures during artificial drying of high moisture seed corn ( Zea mays L.) may result in reduced seed quality and lead to poorer germination, reduced stand, and lower seedling vigor. The purpose of this research was to study the influence of the male parent on the female parent and to determine the genetic variation for tolerance of high drying temperature among hybrid seed from six inbred lines. Seed from diallel crosses, including reciprocals of the inbreds A632 (tolerant of drying injury), A641, B14A, B73, W64A (intermediate), and Mo17 (intolerant) were harvested at 500g kg −1 (high harvest moisture, HHM) and dried at 50 °C to ca. 120g kg −1 in 1984 and 1985. Hybrid seeds were evaluated in the laboratory for tolerance of drying injury in warm (standard) and cold germination tests. Greater variation in germination percentage was observed among lines when used as female parents than when the lines were used as male parents. The influence of an inbred as pollen parent was not significant. Maternal effect mean squares were 1.5 and 3.3 times greater than those of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), respectively, for warm germination tests. GCA mean squares were however 1.5 and 8 times greater than those of maternal and SCA respectively, for cold germination testing. Additive and maternal effects were more important than nonadditive and reciprocal effects in the variation for tolerance of drying injury among these six lines. This suggests that most of the variability observed among seeds for tolerance of drying injury was associated with maternal and or cytoplasmic inheritance. Environment (year), however, had a significant effect on the contribution of these genetic components.