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Comparing Methods for Integrating Exotic Germplasm into European Forage Maize Breeding Programs 1
Author(s) -
Šimić Domagoj,
Presterl Thomas,
Seitz Günter,
Geiger Hartwig H.
Publication year - 2003
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/cropsci2003.1952
Subject(s) - germplasm , biology , backcrossing , agronomy , forage , population , breeding program , selection (genetic algorithm) , microbiology and biotechnology , cultivar , genetics , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , gene
To broaden the genetic base of Central European germplasm of forage maize ( Zea mays L.), it is necessary to integrate exotic materials into adapted breeding populations. The aim of the study was to compare several methods of integration by evaluating 18 initial crosses between adapted (recipient) and exotic (donor) elite dent inbred lines with regard to their testcross performance. Specific objectives were (i) to assess the effects of backcrossing the F 1 to the recipient and intermating the F 2 generation, (ii) to determine the benefit of selection for earliness, and (iii) to examine the influence of the recipient and donor genotype on the integration methods. Three foundation populations were developed from each of the initial crosses: F 2 , F 2 –Syn2 (= F 2 twice intermated) and BC 1 Fifty S 1 lines were produced from the 4.4% earliest S 0 plants of each foundation population. Bulks of these S 1 lines along with the pertinent F 1 s and recipient parents were testcrossed with an adapted flint line. The testcrosses were evaluated in field trials at three locations in southern Germany in 1994 and 1995. Whole plant quality traits were investigated by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Differences between generation means were significant for all agronomic traits and for starch content and crude protein content. For dry matter yield, the effect of backcrossing varied among the initial crosses, while the influence of intermating was nonsignificant in most instances. Averaged across all generations, initial crosses which had inbred lines B73 or Mo17 as donors were superior to all other crosses for dry matter yield without being later in maturity. For maturity, the effects of backcrossing, intermating, and selection for earliness generally were all germplasm specific. This suggests that the choice of germplasm is more important than the integration method.