Combining abilities analysis for ear rot resistance in popcorn hybrids development

Juliana Saltires Santos,Divino Rosa dos Santos Junior,Mayara Cazadini Carlos,Marcelo Vivas,Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Júnior,Rafael Nunes de Almeida,Carlos Alberto Scapim,Júlio Cesar Gradice Saluci

doi:10.1590/0034-737x202168010008

Juliana Saltires Santos, Divino Rosa dos Santos Junior + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-737x202168010008

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Abstract

Ear rot caused by fungi of genus Fusarium (FER) is one of the potentially harmful diseases to grain quality in maize. Given the capacity to produce mycotoxins, FER presents a risk to food safety. This study sought to identify parents and indicate hybrids of popcorn with a higher level of resistance to the incidence and severity of FER. Hybrids were produced from the crossing of 15 lines in S7 generation and 5 testers. The hybrids, together with the parents and five more genotypes used as control, were evaluated in a field trial. It was used a randomized block design arranged in 10 x 10 lattice. Data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test (p < 0.05) and then by the mean grouping test of Scott Knott (p < 0.05). The results showed the possible to explore new sources of resistance to FER among germplasm evaluated. Both additive and non-additive gene effects are important in FER resistance. To obtain gains in FER resistance, the development of popcorn hybrids should consider the use of parental lines with low means of severity and good general combining ability.

Highlights

Ear rot caused by Fusarium spp. (FER) is a harmful disease for maize cultivation, with the possibility of reducing the average grain yield by between 10 and 30% (Logrieco et al, 2002)
Given that food safety is put at risk by the accumulation of mycotoxins in grains, a factor that tends to worsen with the climate change scenario predicted for years to come (Medina et al, 2017), the development and cultivation of plants resistant to FER may contribute to the maintenance of food safety
Even though concerns about food safety are greater for common maize, some countries have regulated minimum quality standards for the commercialization of popcorn grains regarding the accumulation of mycotoxins (Anvisa, 2011), thereby proving that increasing phytosanitary quality is a challenge for popcorn producers

Summary

Introduction

Ear rot caused by Fusarium spp. (FER) is a harmful disease for maize cultivation, with the possibility of reducing the average grain yield by between 10 and 30% (Logrieco et al, 2002). (FER) is a harmful disease for maize cultivation, with the possibility of reducing the average grain yield by between 10 and 30% (Logrieco et al, 2002). Growing more resistant varieties to Fusarium spp. infection has been one of the strategies to reduce ear rot and, the accumulation of mycotoxins in grains (Horne et al, 2016; Santiago et al, 2020). Given that food safety is put at risk by the accumulation of mycotoxins in grains, a factor that tends to worsen with the climate change scenario predicted for years to come (Medina et al, 2017), the development and cultivation of plants resistant to FER may contribute to the maintenance of food safety. Even though concerns about food safety are greater for common maize, some countries have regulated minimum quality standards for the commercialization of popcorn grains regarding the accumulation of mycotoxins (Anvisa, 2011), thereby proving that increasing phytosanitary quality is a challenge for popcorn producers

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