Doubled-haploid versus single-seed descent and S1-family variation for testcross performance in a maize population

Abstract

Progress made in the in situ gynogen- esis technique since 1990 now allows production of a high number of maize (Zea mays L.) doubled-haploid (DH) lines. The aim of the study was to compare DH lines versus selfing lines for testcross performance. DH and single-seed des- cent (SSD) lines were produced from random S1 progenies of a broad-base population. For grain yield, kernel moisture, plant height, ear height and leaf length, the three population means were similar. Except for kernel moisture, the genetic variance of DH lines was nearly twice as high as the genetic variance of S1 families, as expected. On the other hand, genetic variance among SSD lines was only 1.5 times higher than the genetic variance of S1 families. This lower variance could be due to a selection bias in the method of production of SSD lines. However, for all traits, heritability of SSD or DH lines was higher than heritability of S1 families. Epistasis effects in DH progenies were not significant. The consequence was a high correlation between S1 testcross progenies and DH or SSD testcross progenies, meaning that the S1 testcross value can be used to select the best families from which DH lines will be extracted. As a whole, the observed variation in DH lines appeared to be more in accordance with the observed variation among S1 families than with the observed variation among SSD lines.