Genetic variation for traits relating to nitrogen content of maize stalks

Abstract

The objective of this research was to obtain information about expression of genes controlling N concentration in the lower stalk internodes of maize at silking stages and in two other stages during the grain filling period. The inheritance of nitrate-N concentration, total N concentration, and the nitrate-N/total N ratio in the lower stalk internodes was measured in an eight-line diallel cross experiment and in an experiment involving segregating generations. The results show that the parameters examined, particularly nitrate-N concentration, are genetically controlled and that maize plants differ in this respect. Moreover, the magnitude of the general combining ability effects in relation to the size of specific combining ability obtained from the diallel analysis and the mean squares of the analysis of variance of generation means indicated additive heritability of nitrate-N concentration and other N-related traits in maize stalks. These findings suggest to us that a cyclic selection program in maize should be effective in modifying the level of N-related traits concentration in the stalks.