Improvement of two local populations of corn by the mass selection with checking of the pollen for Chadian producers

Abstract

The objective of the test was to improve 2 local populations of corn by consistent 2 cycles of a performance selection test with the witness. The plant materials were composed of P1 and P3 populations of corn gotten through the simple recurrent selection and P1A and P3A populations descended of the mass selection and witness T. The test has been led with P1 and P3 populations of corn according to an experimental device of parcel subdivided into 4. It has been followed from a test of performance of T1 and T2 treatments with witness according to an experimental device of blocks of Fisher to 4 repetitions. The genetic gain of row number per ear of P1A was 2.32% ± 0.029 and of P3A was 1.70% ± 0.026. The genetic gain of grain number per row of P1A was of 0.46% ± 0.013 and that of P3A was 0.95% ± 0.024. The genetic gain of weight of the grains of P1A was 6.42% ± 0.016 and that P3A was of 2.26% ± 0.035. The genetic gain of output in grain of P1A was of 7.64% ± 0.02 and P3A was of 5.11% ± 0.025. The best number of grain per row was registered on T1 (43.62 ± 0.135). The best grain output was obtained on T2 (3.21 t ha-1 ± 0.03). The best performances of P1A and P3A will permit to increase the productivity of corn. Also, these populations of corn will act as basis to the program of variety improvement. Key words: Variety improvement, Zea mays L, genetic gain, improved populations, Chad.