Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to verify if there is linear dependence between the phenological, morphological, and productive traits and the energetic-nutritional ones in early maturing and super-early maturing corn genotypes. A total of 36 early maturing and 22 super-early maturing corn genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, and the phenological, morphological, productive, and energetic-nutritional traits were measured. The matrix of phenotypic correlation coefficients among traits was determined; the multicollinearity diagnosis was carried out within each group of traits; and the canonical correlation analysis was performed. Linear dependence was observed between the groups of phenological, morphological, and productive traits and of the energetic-nutritional ones. In early maturing genotypes, significant canonical correlation shows the existence of linear dependence between the morphological and energetic-nutritional traits. The significant canonical pair shows that taller plants have lower amylose contents in the grains and reduced nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy. In super-early maturing genotypes, significant canonical correlations of the phenological, morphological, and productive traits with the energetic-nutritional ones indicate that a greater number of days from sowing to female flowering and ear insertion height, as well as a lower number of ears, increase ether extract contents in the grains.
Highlights
Corn (Zea mays L.) is the most used energetic ingredient in animal diets, with 80% of the total production in Brazil being directed for this purpose (Oliveira et al, 2011)
Other sources of energy in grains include: ether extract, which is known as crude fat and is located in the germ of the corn kernel; and starch, which is one of the main individual components present in the corn grain and a primary source of energy, since it is a carbohydrate reserve constituted by amylose and amylopectin (Li et al, 2008; Idikut et al, 2009)
The analysis of variance of the phenological, morphological, productive, and energetic-nutritional traits revealed genetic variability between early maturing and super-early maturing genotypes (Table 1). This type of study is of utmost importance, because the wide variability found among these traits enables the identification of those that are promising for corn genetic breeding programs through indirect selection
Summary
Corn (Zea mays L.) is the most used energetic ingredient in animal diets, with 80% of the total production in Brazil being directed for this purpose (Oliveira et al, 2011). Knowledge of the nutritional and energetic contents of corn grains, including metabolizable energy, ether extract, starch, and amylose, is important in animal feeding formulations, because it enables fulfilling nutritional requirements. Variations in the energetic composition of corn grain may, for example, significantly affect the profitability of swine production, since it directly affects feed conversion (Dozier et al, 2011). For this reason, studies on the chemical and energetic characterization of corn have been performed to assess the performance of swine (Li et al, 2014), broilers, and laying hens (Moore et al, 2008). These contents may be evaluated through indirect methods, such as near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), which, according to Dale et al (2010), is a quick and accurate non-destructive technique that preserves the integrity of the samples
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