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Indirect Inbred Selection to Reduce Grain Moisture in Maize Hybrids
Author(s) -
Sweeney P. M.,
St. Martin S. K.,
Clucas C. P.
Publication year - 1994
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/cropsci1994.0011183x003400020016x
Subject(s) - husk , hybrid , biology , senescence , selection (genetic algorithm) , inbred strain , agronomy , grain yield , population , moisture , poaceae , water content , zea mays , horticulture , botany , genetics , chemistry , demography , geotechnical engineering , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , gene , engineering , organic chemistry
To select indirectly for low grain moisture in maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids, divergent lines were selected from two S 2 populations on the basis of three morphological traits (date of husk senescence, husk length, and kernel number) that previously had been shown to be associated with faster drying rates in hybrids. Divergent lines were also selected on the basis of silking date. Nine hybrids for each selection classification were formed by crossing three selected S 2 lines from one population with three inbreds, selected on the basis of the same criterion, from the second population. Field evaluation of the hybrids indicated that selection for early husk senescence in the inbreds decreased grain moisture by 27 g kg −1 ', hastened physiological maturity, and increased lodging in the associated hybrids. Selection for early husk senescence did not affect yield. Selection for the other three traits had no significant effect on grain moisture at harvest. Our results suggest that selection of early husk senescence in inbreds would result in hybrids with lower grain moisture and that evaluation of husk senescence may be useful in monitoring maturity in maize.