Yield potential of green maize from partially inbred lines in top crosses

• Published in: Australian Journal of Crop Science Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 140 - 149
• Main Authors: Silva, Caique Machado e, Candido, Willame dos Santos, Almeida, Pedro Henrique Sousa, Costa, Maraiza Lima, Silva, Bruna Elaine de Almeida, Pinto, Jefferson Fernando Naves, Reis, Edésio Fialho dos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lismore, N.S.W Southern Cross Publishers 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Corn; Growth; Harvesting; Plant breeding; Planting; Yields
• ISSN: 1835-2693; 1835-2707
• DOI: 10.21475/ajcs.20.14.01.p2020

Selecting potential progenies in early inbred generations is an essential step towards the success of breeding programs. Given this, the use of top crosses assists breeders in selecting progenies to generate lines with the potential for hybrid yield. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the behavior of partially inbred progenies (S1) of maize with potential for green maize yield in top crosses and to evaluate the hybrid performance. Seventy-five top cross hybrids were generated from the cross between 75 S1 progenies and the F2 generation of the hybrid AG 1051. The 75 hybrids, the male tester (F2 generation of the hybrid AG 1051 as a broad genetic base tester), and the hybrid AG 1051 were sown in a block design with four replicates. The following traits were evaluated: husked ear yield; commercial ear yield; flowering; plant height; strawing; mean weight of grain mass in green maize stage; tassel branch number; ear row number; ear length; and ear diameter. The analysis of variance was performed estimating the general combining ability, and, from the means, the Scott and Knott test was conducted. The top cross hybrids that were prominent for commercial ear yield were those composed of partially inbred progenies 19, 48, 6, 28, and 42 with high GCA, suggesting a potential for the production of open pollination population or synthetic production as well.