Early testing of S1 lines of maize

Abstract

Eighty S1 maize (Zea mays L.) lines derived from halfsibfamilies with good yield potential (greater than landraces in theregion) were evaluated, with the purpose of selecting outstandinglines. Native populations are a source of germplasm for genetic improvementthrough selection and hybridization. Analysis of varianceshowed highly significant differences between the lines S1 in thevariables days to anthesis (FM), silking date (FF), plant height (Apl),ear height (Amz), leaves above ear (NHEmz), ear length (Lmz), rownumber (Nhil), kernels per row (Ghil), total kernels per ear (TGmz)and grain yield (Rend). All variables showed high variability, anexpected result given the origin of the evaluated genotypes. Meancomparisons showed seven statistical groups for FF, with an intervalof 77-87 days and 14 statistical groups for FM, with an interval of70-86 days. For the variable AMz a variation of 91.4 to 154.6 cm wasobserved. In LESP, the length range was 29.4 to 50.6 cm. For thevariable Rend, the genotype seven yielded of 14.65 t/ha, which wasstatistically superior to genotype 81, the control check, with 12.38 t/ha. Early testing identified inbred lines with good agronomic characteristicsand high yield potential. It is considered as an appropriatemethod in a corn breeding program for eliminating lines with lowyield potential at an early stage of development of inbred lines.