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Genetic Diversity for RFLPs in European Maize Inbreds: I. Relation to Performance of Flint ✕ Dent Crosses for Forage Traits
Author(s) -
Boppenmaier Jürgen,
Melchinger Albrecht E.,
BrunklausJung Elisabeth,
Geiger Hartwig H.,
Herrmann Reinhold G.
Publication year - 1992
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/cropsci1992.0011183x003200040012x
Subject(s) - biology , heterosis , germplasm , hybrid , restriction fragment length polymorphism , inbred strain , genetics , genetic diversity , forage , trait , genetic distance , pedigree chart , quantitative trait locus , genotype , genetic variation , agronomy , gene , population , demography , sociology , computer science , programming language
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been proposed as a tool for assigning inbreds to heterotic groups and predicting heterosis and performance of single‐cross hybrids in maize ( Zea mays L.). Such use was evaluated in 11 flint and 11 dent inbred lines from the European maize germplasm and in 66 F 1 hybrids produced between them according to an incomplete factorial mating scheme. Inbreds and hybrids were evaluated for 12 forage yield and quality traits in three and six environments, respectively, in Germany. The RFLP assays of the 22 inbreds were performed with two restriction enzymes and 101 DNA probes distributed throughout the maize genome. Most (>97%) clone‐enzyme combinations revealed polymorphisms (⊄5.0 variants per clone‐enzyme combination). Genetic distances (GD) between lines, calculated from RFLP data, had a significantly greater mean for flint × dent (0.65) than for flint x flint (0.58) or dent × dent (0.59) line combinations. Cluster analysis based on GDs revealed associations among lines consistent with their origin from different heterotic groups and known pedigrees. The GD values pertaining to the 66 F 1 hybrids were partitioned into general (GGD) and specific (SGD) genetic distances; GGD explained ⊄30% of the variation among GD values. Neither GD nor SGD was significantly correlated (| r |≤ 0.25) with F 1 performance or midparent heterosis for any trait examined. Results from this study support previous investigations with U.S. maize germplasm in that RFLP data can be used for assigning inbreds into heterotic groups. However, RFLP‐based genetic distance measures are apparently not indicative of the performance of single‐cross hybrids between lines from different heterotic groups for forage traits.