Heterotic relationships among European maize inbreds

• Published in: Euphytica 2002-01, Vol.126 (2), p.259-264
• Main Authors: REVILLA, P, MALVAR, R. A, CARTEA, M. E, SOENGAS, P, ORDAS, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Corn; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Heterosis. Floral biology applications: apomixy, male sterility, incompatibility, varia; Plant breeding; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plant reproduction
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1016390107871

European flint maize (Zea mays L.)cannot be considered an uniform group of germplasm based on its origin and area of adaptation. However, maize breeders have not taken full advantage of the variability within the European flint germplasm. The objective of this work was to study the heterotic relationships among European maize inbreds from different origins. Nine European flint inbreds were crossed in a diallel that was evaluated in three environments in northwestern Spain. The variability within the European flint germplasm and the agronomic value of some inbreds could be utilized for maize breeding programs as an alternative to the systematic introduction of U.S. dent germplasm that is narrowing the germplasm base of breeding programs even in places where it is poorly adapted. Some European flint inbreds may also be valuable sources of earliness (F7 and EP42), resistance to root lodging (EA1070), and yield (EP42).These results suggest that, within the European flint germplasm, there could be some heterotic patterns, such as 'north-central Europe × southern Europe', which could provide an alternative to the heterotic pattern 'European flint × U.S. dent'.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]