Development of High Protein Populations of Maize (Zea mays L.) From Three Cycles of Reciprocal Recurrent Selection

Abstract

This breeding programme was initiated at the Department of Crop Production and Landscape Management's teaching and research farm of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. The genetic materials were sourced from the University of Nigeria gene bank. After three cycles of reciprocal recurrent selection, two high protein populations of maize (Zea mays L.) with mean protein content estimates of 14.4 Nsukka High Protein - Early (NHP-E) and 14.3 Nsukka High Protein - Late (NHP-L) were developed from populations with average protein contents of 7.6 and 8.6 per cent, respectively. The new populations can be used as commercial varieties, as parents in varietal crosses or as reservoirs of germplasm for further improvement and extraction of superior inbred lines for use in hybrid maize production.