Commercial Maize Hybrids Research Articles

Nitrogen as top-dressing and sowing densities on agronomic characteristics of maize crop

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of commercial maize hybrids with modern and old architecture, under the influence of nitrogen (N) as top dressing with different plant populations. Two independent experiments were conducted, one in the municipality of Guarapuava (reduced spacing = 0.45 m) and the other in the municipality of Laranjeiras do Sul (conventional spacing = 0.90 m), in the Paraná state, Brazil, in the 2012/2013 growing seasons. The experiments were set in a randomized block design, with three replicates, in a factorial scheme (6 x 3 x 3), corresponding to six maize hybrids (with modern and old architecture), three plant populations (60000, 75000 and 90000 plants ha-1) and three N doses as top dressing (0, 90 and 180 kg ha-1 of N), both installed in October. N doses as top dressing and sowing density influenced the thousand-grain weight in maize hybrids with modern and old architecture. The increase in sowing density reduced stem diameter in the groups of modern and old architecture in Laranjeiras do Sul. Grain yield was positively influenced by N fertilization, being higher at the N dose of 180 kg ha-1 in Guarapuava and Laranjeiras do Sul.

Concentration of Beneficial Phytochemicals in Harvested Grain of U.S. Yellow Dent Maize (Zea mays L.) Germplasm.

Although previous studies have examined the concentration of various nutritional compounds in maize, little focus has been devoted to the study of commercial maize hybrids or their inbred parents. In this study, a genetically and phenotypically diverse set of maize hybrids and inbreds relevant to U.S. commercial maize germplasm was evaluated for its variability in phytochemical content. Total protein, unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, soluble phenolics, and insoluble-bound phenolics were evaluated in this study. Of these compounds, only soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic acids exhibited means and variances that were at least as large as the means and variances reported for other sets of germplasm. This suggests that selection for high phenolic acid content is possible in current U.S. commercial germplasm. In contrast, while the total protein, unsaturated fatty acid, or tocopherol content could possibly be improved using current U.S. commercial germplasm, the results of this study indicate that the incorporation of more diverse sources of germplasm would most likely result in quicker genetic gains.

Evaluation of ZmCCT haplotypes for genetic improvement of maize hybrids.

The elite ZmCCT haplotypes which have no transposable element in the promoter could enhance maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot and improve yield-related traits, while having no or mild impact on flowering time. Therefore, they are expected to have great value in future maize breeding programs. A CCT domain-containing gene, ZmCCT, is involved in both photoperiod response and stalk rot resistance in maize. At least 15 haplotypes are present at the ZmCCT locus in maize germplasm, whereas only three of them are found in Chinese commercial maize hybrids. Here, we evaluated ZmCCT haplotypes for their potential application in corn breeding. Nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes that have no CACTA-like transposable element in the promoter were introduced into seven elite maize inbred lines by marker-assisted backcrossing. The resultant 63 converted lines had 0.7-5.1Mb of resistant ZmCCT donor segments with over 90% recovery rates. All converted lines tested exhibited enhanced resistance to maize stalk rot but varied in photoperiod sensitivity. There was a close correlation between the hybrids and their parental lines with respect to both resistance performance and photoperiod sensitivity. Furthermore, in a given hybrid A5302/83B28, resistant ZmCCT haplotype could largely improve yield-related traits, such as ear length and 100-kernel weight, resulting in enhanced grain yield. Of nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes, haplotype H5 exhibited excellent performance for both flowering time and stalk rot resistance and is thus expected to have potential value in future maize breeding programs.

<b>Effect of foliar fungicide and plant spacing on the expression of lipoxygenase enzyme and grain rot in maize hybrids

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of fungicide application on grain rot in commercial maize hybrids and the relation between grain rot and the expression of lipoxygenase enzyme in grain in conventional row spacing of 0.70 m and reduced row spacing of 0.45 m. Treatments were made in a 3 x 8 factorial scheme, using three forms of management with fungicide (Trifloxystrobin + Prothioconazole) and eight maize hybrids divided into two groups (tolerant and susceptible) with three repetitions, totaling 72 plots in each environment (conventional and reduced spacing) in the 2013/2014 crop. The following characteristics were evaluated: grain rot percentage and lipoxygenase enzyme expression (LOX) in the grain. The hybrid and the fungicide utilized influenced the grain rot percentage. Grain rot percentage was reduced by the use of the fungicide, and the highest reduction was in susceptible hybrids with two applications, V8 and V8+VT. There was higher expression of LOX enzyme in maize hybrids that belong to the group tolerant of fungi that cause grain rot .The use of the fungicide in two applications, V8 (eight leaves) and VT (tasseling), increased the intensity of the LOX enzyme, which was more evident for the reduced spacing.

A Bird in the Hand Versus Two in the Bush? The Specialist Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Does Not Discriminate Against Sub-optimal Host Plants (Zea spp.).

The corn leafhopper [Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott)] is a specialist on Zea (Poaceae) that coevolved with maize (Zea mays mays) and its teosinte (Zea spp.) relatives. This study tested the hypothesis that host acceptance by females varies among Zea hosts, and is correlated with variation in defensive levels across those hosts. Prior studies revealed differences in plant defenses among Zea hosts and corresponding differences in corn leafhopper performance. Thus, host acceptance was expected to be correlated with defensive levels and offspring performance across Zea hosts, following the hypothesis that offspring performance mediates host preference. In parallel, host acceptance was expected to be correlated with transitions in life history strategy (perennial to annual life cycle), domestication status (wild to domesticated), and breeding intensity (landrace to hybrid variety) in Zea because variation in defensive levels and corn leafhopper performance were shown in prior studies to be correlated with those transitions. The study's hypotheses were tested by comparing, under no-choice conditions, host acceptance by corn leafhopper of a suite of Zea hosts encompassing those transitions: perennial teosinte (Zea diploperennis), Balsas teosinte (Zea mays parviglumis), and landrace and commercial hybrid maize. The results did not show differences in host acceptance for oviposition or feeding among the hosts. Thus, under no-choice conditions, all Zea hosts may be similarly acceptable for feeding and oviposition, despite marked ovipositional preferences under choice conditions and poorer offspring performance on teosintes relative to maize shown previously. The results suggested also that oviposition frequency per plant by females was not correlated with their offspring's performance.

Why SR52 is such a great maize hybrid? II. Heritability, correlation and path-coefficient analyses

Although exceptional heterosis for yield in the world’s first commercial single cross maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid SR52 has been confirmed, the role of secondary traits hasn’t been established. Objectives of this study were to establish relationship between grain yield and secondary traits, while assessing heritability and genotypic variation in SR52’s segregating populations. Knowledge on associations between yield and secondary traits would be crucial in extracting productive inbred lines from the population. Traits were subjected to correlation and path-coefficient analyses. Path analysis model accounted for over 70% of variation (R2) in all populations. Consistently high positive correlations with grain yield were observed for ear length and number of kernel rows on ear. Ear girth (0.19), and number of kernels per row (0.48) showed high direct effects on yield in the F2 population and the trend was consistent in the backcrosses. Positive indirect effects of most traits on grain yield were negligible with the exception of kernel per row via total number of kernels on ear, which was above 0.40 in the F2 and BCP1. Ear length can be exploited for indirect selection for yield in SR52’s segregating generations. 100-kernel weight and number of kernel rows on ear can, to a lesser extent, be targeted in selecting for grain yield. High to medium phenotypic variability in segregating generations of SR52 for traits such as ear length, number kernel rows on ear and grain yield should give impetus to selection of productive inbred lines from SR52 hybrid because of presence of diversity in the gene pool.

Prediction of nutritive values, morphology and agronomic characteristics in forage maize using two applications of NIRS spectrometry

ABSTRACTThis study evaluates nutritive, morphological and agronomic characteristics of forage maize predicted by using a high-quality near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer and an NIR hyperspectral-imaging technique using partial least squares (PLS) regression models. The study includes 132 samples of dried milled whole-plant homogenates of forage maize with variation in maturity, representing two growing seasons, three locations in Sweden and three commercial maize hybrids. The samples were measured by a classical sample cup NIR spectrometer and by a pushbroom hyperspectral-imaging instrument. The spectra and a number of variables (crude protein, CP, neutral detergent fibre, starch, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and organic matter digestibility), morphological variables (leaves, stems & ears) and crop yield were used to make PLS calibration models. Using PLS modelling allowed the determination of how well maize variables can be predicted from NIR spectra and a comparison of the two types of instruments. Most examined variables could be determined equally well, by both instruments, but the pushbroom technique gave slightly better predictions and had higher analytical capacity. Predictions of CP, starch, WSC and the proportions of ears in the maize gave robust. The findings open new possibilities to further utilise the technology in plant breeding, crop management, modelling and forage evaluation.

Adaptability and stability in commercial maize hybrids in the southeast of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability and stability of 29 commercial maize hybrids in the southeast of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, employing three methods. The 29 commercial maize hybrids from the 2014/2015 crop were evaluated for grain yield in five locations in the southeast of Minas Gerais. A randomised-block design was used, with two replications. Each lot comprised two rows, five meters in length, at a spacing of 0.80 m, giving an effective area of 8.00 m2. In addition to individual and combined variance analysis, the methods of Eberhart & Russell (1966), AMMI (Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction Analysis) and mixed models were used to evaluate the adaptability and stability of the 29 hybrids. There was a significant difference (P<0.01) for the effects of hybrid, environment and the hybrid x environment interaction. The majority of the hybrids under evaluation displayed broad adaptability with good stability. It was concluded that the Eberhart & Russell, AMMI and mixed-model methods show similar results in classifying maize hybrids of broad adaptability. There is a difference in indicating hybrids with specific adaptability to favourable and unfavourable environments. Based on the three methods, the hybrids SHS7920PRO, BM709PRO2, BRS1055 and BM650PRO2 show a general adaptability for the environments under evaluation.

REML/BLUP and sequential path analysis in estimating genotypic values and interrelationships among simple maize grain yield-related traits.

Methodologies using restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP) in combination with sequential path analysis in maize are still limited in the literature. Therefore, the aims of this study were: i) to use REML/BLUP-based procedures in order to estimate variance components, genetic parameters, and genotypic values of simple maize hybrids, and ii) to fit stepwise regressions considering genotypic values to form a path diagram with multi-order predictors and minimum multicollinearity that explains the relationships of cause and effect among grain yield-related traits. Fifteen commercial simple maize hybrids were evaluated in multi-environment trials in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The environmental variance (78.80%) and genotype-vs-environment variance (20.83%) accounted for more than 99% of the phenotypic variance of grain yield, which difficult the direct selection of breeders for this trait. The sequential path analysis model allowed the selection of traits with high explanatory power and minimum multicollinearity, resulting in models with elevated fit (R2 > 0.9 and ε < 0.3). The number of kernels per ear (NKE) and thousand-kernel weight (TKW) are the traits with the largest direct effects on grain yield (r = 0.66 and 0.73, respectively). The high accuracy of selection (0.86 and 0.89) associated with the high heritability of the average (0.732 and 0.794) for NKE and TKW, respectively, indicated good reliability and prospects of success in the indirect selection of hybrids with high-yield potential through these traits. The negative direct effect of NKE on TKW (r = -0.856), however, must be considered. The joint use of mixed models and sequential path analysis is effective in the evaluation of maize-breeding trials.

Expression of catalase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase in rot grains upon fungicide use on maize hybrids grown at different spacings.

In this study, we evaluated the fungicide effect on the incidence of rot grains and expression of catalase (CAT), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzymes in commercial maize hybrids grown with conventional and reduced spacing in Guarapuava, PR, Brazil. The experiment was designed in random blocks with a 3 × 8-factorial scheme, totaling 24 treatments. The first factor constituted three levels, the first with foliar fungicide application [150.0 g/L trifloxystrobin (15.0%, w/v) + 175.0 g/L prothioconazole (17.5%, w/v)] at a dose of 0.4 L/ha at V8-stage eight expanded leaves and the second with an application of 0.5 L/ha at VT-tasseling and check (no fungicide application) stage. The second factor comprised eight maize hybrids that were divided into two groups, complex (AG 9045PRO, AG 8041PRO, DKB245PRO2, and 2B707PW) and susceptible (P 32R48H, DKB390PRO, P 30F53H, and P 30R50H), according to their reaction to the causative fungus, totaling 72 plots at each site in the crop of 2013/2014. The percentage of rot grains and the expression of CAT, ADH, and MDH were evaluated for each hybrid. The percentage of rot grains was influenced by the hybrid and fungicide used. The (trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole) reduced the incidence of rot grains, with relatively higher reduction in the hybrids considered susceptible. The higher expression of CAT enzyme was related to the higher incidence of rot grains because of grain deterioration, depending on the hybrids evaluated. A higher expression of ADH and MDH enzymes was observed in the maize hybrids belonging to the group considered tolerant.

Evaluation and selection of salt tolerant hybrid maize under hydroponics culture

Salinity is one of the principal challenges that hinders agricultural productivity in salt affected zones of the world including the southern part of Bangladesh. Recently, hybrid maize has been introduced in the cropping systems of the southern part of Bangladesh to increase cropping intensity and productivity. However, the aim of the study to find out tolerant genotypes for that reason, a study with 29 commercial maize hybrids was screened against salinity in a hydroponic culture using Hoagland solution via a split-plot design with two salinity levels (Control and 12 dS/m) and three replications. Ten days old maize seedlings were transplanted to hydroponic pots where they received salinity treatment for 18 days and the data were collected. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant of all genotypes and highly significant of treatment for maximum root and shoot length, leaf area, shoot dry weight and total dry matter. Genotype by traits biplot indicated that SPAD values, number of green leaves, maximum shoot length, leaf area, shoot dry weight and total dry matter were the respectable factors for selection of superior germplasm. All parameters using under study of seedling decreased under salt treatment except chlorophyll content of some genotypes showed higher SPAD value over control. Cluster analysis placed the 29 hybrids into five main groups among those clusters, group three showed the highest number of relative mean values for number of green leaves, maximum shoot length, leaf area, shoot dry weight and total dry matter. Based on the analysis, proline was the most tolerant hybrid after that 9120-paloan, kaveri-25 KCO and very susceptible genotypes were Heera, Raza and Karehi-50.

Performance evaluation of commercial maize hybrids across diverse Terai environments during the winter season in Nepal

The hybrid maize cultivars of multinational seed companies are gradually being popular among the farmers in Nepal. This paper reports on research finding of 117 maize hybrids of 20 seed companies assessed for grain yield and other traits at three sites in winter season of 2011 and 2012. The objective of the study was to identify superior maize hybrids suitable for winter time planting in eastern, central and inner Terai of Nepal. Across site analysis of variance revealed that highly significant effect of genotype and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) on grain yield of commercial hybrids. Overall, 47 genotypes of 16 seed companies identified as high yielding and stable based on superiority measures. The statistical analysis ranked topmost three genotypes among tested hybrids as P3856 (10515 kg ha-1), Bisco prince (8763 kg ha-1) as well as Shaktiman (8654 kg ha-1) in the first year; and 3022 (8378 kg ha-1), Kirtiman manik (8323 kg ha-1) as well as Top class (7996 kg ha-1) in the second year. It can be concluded that stable and good performing hybrids identified as potential commercial hybrids for general cultivation on similar environments in Nepal.

Genomic Prediction of Single Crosses in the Early Stages of a Maize Hybrid Breeding Pipeline.

Prediction of single-cross performance has been a major goal of plant breeders since the beginning of hybrid breeding. Recently, genomic prediction has shown to be a promising approach, but only limited studies have examined the accuracy of predicting single-cross performance. Moreover, no studies have examined the potential of predicting single crosses among random inbreds derived from a series of biparental families, which resembles the structure of germplasm comprising the initial stages of a hybrid maize breeding pipeline. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of genomic prediction for identifying superior single crosses early in the hybrid breeding pipeline and optimize its application. To accomplish these objectives, we designed and analyzed a novel population of single crosses representing the Iowa Stiff Stalk synthetic/non-Stiff Stalk heterotic pattern commonly used in the development of North American commercial maize hybrids. The performance of single crosses was predicted using parental combining ability and covariance among single crosses. Prediction accuracies were estimated using cross-validation and ranged from 0.28 to 0.77 for grain yield, 0.53 to 0.91 for plant height, and 0.49 to 0.94 for staygreen, depending on the number of tested parents of the single cross and genomic prediction method used. The genomic estimated general and specific combining abilities showed an advantage over genomic covariances among single crosses when one or both parents of the single cross were untested. Overall, our results suggest that genomic prediction of single crosses in the early stages of a hybrid breeding pipeline holds great potential to redesign hybrid breeding and increase its efficiency.

Genetic improvement in density and nitrogen stress tolerance traits over 38 years of commercial maize hybrid release

Research attention to improving source and sink strength in maize production is requisite for enhancing yield. Improvement in source strength has been achieved with higher post-silking dry matter accumulation, whereas historical improvement in sink strength has been mostly attributed to increasing kernel number (KN) per unit area, in part because KN is known to be more vulnerable to abiotic stresses compared to kernel weight (KW). However, KW can also vary widely as it is dependent on both genotype and dry matter accumulation during the post-silking period. In order to illustrate the consequences of breeding efforts over a 4-decade period for enhancing source and sink strength at varying nitrogen rates and plant densities, a 2-year and 2-location study was conducted in 2013 and 2014. Eight commercial hybrids from DeKalb released from 1967 to 2005 were compared at 2 nitrogen rates (55 and 220kgNha−1) and 3 plant densities (54,000 (D1), 79,000 (D2) and 104,000 (D3) plants ha−1). Breeding progress increased grain yield per hectare (GY) by an average of 66kgha−1year−1, and grain yield per plant (GYP) by 0.91g plant−1year−1 across all treatments and environments. This yield increase with hybrid improvement was attributed more to an increase in KW (1.29mgkernel−1year−1 across all treatments and both locations), than to any increase in KN. The overall source-sink ratio (SSR − ratio of post-silking dry matter accumulation to kernel number per plant) also increased by an average of 1.25mgkernel−1year−1 across all treatment and locations. The hybrid improvement in SSR was more pronounced at the high N rate or low plant density. Post-silking dry matter accumulation (PostDM) increased by an average of 54kgha−1year−1 across all treatments and locations. KW was highly correlated with ear growth rate (EGR) during grain fill. New hybrids had much higher KW gain per unit of EGR. Newer hybrids also had a longer active grain filling period, but the correlation of post-silking dry matter accumulation to the duration of active grain filling period was weak. This study showed that the breeding progress for yield gain in these DeKalb hybrids was achieved by (i) longer duration of the grain filling period plus longer leaf stay green that accompanied a higher PostDM of newer hybrids, (ii) enhanced source to sink strength during grain filling by a higher SSR in newer hybrids, (iii) improved efficiency for transferring source from cob and husk to grain by increasing KW gain per unit of EGR, and (iv) enhanced stress tolerance in newer hybrids to maintain grain yield even under high density.

Screening for drought tolerance of maize hybrids by multi-scale analysis of root and shoot traits at the seedling stage.

We studied the drought response of eight commercial hybrid maize lines with contrasting drought sensitivity together with the reference inbred line B73 using a non-invasive platform for root and shoot phenotyping and a kinematics approach to quantify cell level responses in the leaf. Drought treatments strongly reduced leaf growth parameters including projected leaf area, elongation rate, final length and width of the fourth and fifth leaf. Physiological measurements including water use efficiency, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis were also significantly affected. By performing a kinematic analysis, we show that leaf growth reduction in response to drought is mainly due to a decrease in cell division rate, whereas a marked reduction in cell expansion rate is compensated by increased duration of cell expansion. Detailed analysis of root growth in rhizotrons under drought conditions revealed a strong reduction in total root length as well as rooting depth and width. This was reflected by corresponding decreases in fresh and dry weight of the root system. We show that phenotypic differences between lines differing in geographic origin (African vs. European) and in drought tolerance under field conditions can already be identified at the seedling stage by measurements of total root length and shoot dry weight of the plants. Moreover, we propose a list of candidate traits that could potentially serve as traits for future screening strategies.

Application of prognostic breeding in maize

Innovative approaches and new efficiencies in plant breeding are required to accelerate the progress of genetic improvement through selection. One such approach is the application of prognostic breeding, which is an integrated crop-improvement methodology that enables selection of plants for high crop yield potential by evaluating its two components: plant yield potential and stability of performance. Plant yield and stability are assessed concurrently in each generation by utilising the plant prognostic equation. The genetic material used for this study was 2350 F2 plants (C0) of the commercial maize hybrid Costanza. The study presents the results of the application of prognostic breeding for 6 years in two contrasting environments (A and B), starting from C0 and ending in C5. It utilises ultra-high selection pressures (1.5% to 0.5%) to isolate superior lines with crop yield comparable to Costanza, and estimates the annual genetic gain accomplished through application of this selection strategy. Application of prognostic breeding led to the isolation of superior lines whose productivity was comparable to Costanza. The productivity gap between Costanza and the best selection was reduced from 87% (C0) to 0.5% (C5) in trial 1 (environment A), from 87% (C0) to 2% (C5) in trial 2 (environment B) and from 70% (C0) to 1% (C3) in trial 3 (environment B). Genetic gain was much higher (up to 50%) in the early cycles C0–C2 of prognostic breeding and smaller in cycles C3–C5. The best lines selected were evaluated in randomised complete block trials across both environments and 2 years. Across years, the top two lines in environments A and B averaged 87% and 91% of the Costanza yield, respectively, and they had higher prolificacy (greater number of ears per plant) than Costanza. Across all cycles, the average annual genetic gain ranged from 23% to 36% in the different trials, providing evidence that selection efficiency can be significantly maximised by using this breeding strategy.

Combining abilities and inbreeding depression in commercial maize hybrids

&lt;p&gt;The objective of this study was to evaluate the combining ability and inbreeding depression of commercial maize hybrids for agricultural traits. Twenty-two commercial maize hybrids, 96 F1 crosses from a partial diallel scheme, 22 S1 populations and 4 controls were evaluated in a 12x12 simples square lattice experimental setup, totaling 144 treatments, in the municipality of Sabáudia (PR), Brazil, for harvests from 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. Three traits were evaluated: grain yield, plant height and ear height. The Griffing method (1956) was applied for the evaluation of the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA). The 30B39, 30K64 and 30B30 hybrids showed increased yield, 30F53 and P1630 showed reduced plant height and AG9040 and AG7010 showed reduced ear height. These hybrids can be recommended for the extraction of inbred lines and formation of composites followed by intrapopulation selection. The combinations 30B39 x AG8088, 30B39 x AG9045 and P1630 x AG8021 showed desirable SCA effects for grain yield, plant height and ear height and are recommended for use in reciprocal recurrent selection programs. High magnitudes of inbreeding depression were verified for yield and lower values for inbreeding depression for plant and ear heights. Thus, strategies are recommended for interpopulation breeding accompanied by inbred lines extraction.&lt;/p&gt;

Combining abilities and inbreeding depression in commercial maize hybrids

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combining ability and inbreeding depression of commercial maize hybrids for agricultural traits. Twenty-two commercial maize hybrids, 96 F1 crosses from a partial diallel scheme, 22 S1 populations and 4 controls were evaluated in a 12x12 simples square lattice experimental setup, totaling 144 treatments, in the municipality of Sabáudia (PR), Brazil, for harvests from 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. Three traits were evaluated: grain yield, plant height and ear height. The Griffing method (1956) was applied for the evaluation of the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA). The 30B39, 30K64 and 30B30 hybrids showed increased yield, 30F53 and P1630 showed reduced plant height and AG9040 and AG7010 showed reduced ear height. These hybrids can be recommended for the extraction of inbred lines and formation of composites followed by intrapopulation selection. The combinations 30B39 x AG8088, 30B39 x AG9045 and P1630 x AG8021 showed desirable SCA effects for grain yield, plant height and ear height and are recommended for use in reciprocal recurrent selection programs. High magnitudes of inbreeding depression were verified for yield and lower values for inbreeding depression for plant and ear heights. Thus, strategies are recommended for interpopulation breeding accompanied by inbred lines extraction.

Development and application of marker-assisted reverse breeding using hybrid maize germplasm

Humankind has been through different periods of agricultural improvement aiming at enhancing our food supply and the performance of food crops. In recent years, whole genome sequencing and deep understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have facilitated new plant breeding approaches to meet the challenge of growing population, dwindling resources, and changing climate. Here we proposed a simple and fast molecular breeding method, marker-assisted reverse breeding (MARB), which will revert any maize hybrid into inbred lines with any level of required similarity to its original parent lines. Since all the pericarp DNA of a hybrid is from the maternal parent, whereas one half of the embryo DNA is from the maternal parent and the other half from the paternal parent, so we firstly extract DNA from seed embryo and pericarp of a selected elite hybrid separately and then we derived the genotypes of the two parents with high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips. The following marker-assisted selection was performed based on an Illumina low-density SNP chip designed with 192 SNPs polymorphic between the two parental genotypes, which were uniformly distributed on 10 maize chromosomes. This method has the advantages of fast speed, fixed heterotic mode, and quick recovery of beneficial parental genotypes compared to traditional pedigree breeding using elite hybrids. Meanwhile, MARB has the advantage of not requiring sophisticated transformation and double haploid (DH) technologies over RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated reverse breeding. In addition, MARB can also be used with feed corn harvested from big farms, which is often similar to F2 populations, and the relevant transgenes in the population can be eliminated by marker-assisted selection. As a result, the whole global commercial maize hybrids can be utilized as germplasm for breeding with MARB technology. Starting with an F2 population derived from an elite hybrid, our experiment indicates that with three cycles of marker-assisted selection, selected lines could recover over 80% of the parental genotypes and associated beneficial genes in a fixed heterotic mode. The success application of MARB in maize suggests that this technology is applicable to any hybrid crop to breed new inbreds with improved hybrid performance but the same heterotic mode. As chip technology becomes cheap, it would be expected that polymorphism screening and following marker-assisted selection could be done with one all-purpose high density chip. Several issues associated with MARB were discussed, including its rationale, efficiency and advantages, along with food/feed and environmental safety issues and applications of MARB in variety protection and marker-assisted plant breeding.

Colletotrichum graminicola from leaves or stalks are similarly aggressive in cross-tissue inoculation of five maize hybrids

The objective of this study was to assess whether the source of Colletotrichum graminicola isolates (leaves or stalks) affects anthracnose leaf blight (ALB) and anthracnose stalk rot (ASR) development. Ten greenhouse experiments were conducted, five to evaluate ALB and five to evaluate ASR, each using a distinct commercial maize hybrid varying in reaction to the diseases. A collection of 20 isolates, 10 recovered from symptomatic leaves, and ten from symptomatic stalks, were inoculated on the five hybrids. Maize leaves were inoculated 15 days after planting and ALB was evaluated 15 days after inoculation. Stalks were inoculated at pre-tasseling and ASR evaluated 30 days later. Both ALB and ASR were assessed using a 0–5 ordinal scale. No differences in ALB and ASR severity were observed between the two groups of isolates regardless of hybrid based on the non-parametric test. The ability of C. graminicola to infect and cause anthracnose on any part of the maize plant seemed to not depend on the source of the isolate.