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Recurrent Selection for Specific Combining Ability for Yield in Two Maize Populations¹

This study evaluated recurrent selection for specific combining ability for yield in two maize (Zea mays L.) populations and provided information on the types of gene action involved in the yield improvement. The populations for the recurrent selection program were an open-pollinated variety, ‘Alph,’ and the F₂ of WF9 x B7. Inbred B14 was the tester for both populations. The principal basis of selection was grain yield, and the selection intensity was 10 to 13% in each of five cycles. Ten S₁ lines were selected in each cycle and recombined to give a new population in each source. We evaluated progress by measuring yield in B14 x Alph C_n and B14 x (WF9 x B7)C_n populations, C_n populations per se, related and unrelated testers x C_n populations, and C_n x C_n population crosses in six environments. In all types of populations the rates of gain per cycle were significant, and the gains were greater in Alph than in WF9 x B7. Rates of gain per cycle (q/ha) in some comparisons were: B14 x Alph C_n, 3.09; B14 x (WF9 x B7)C_n, 1.32; BSBB x Alph C_n, 3.63; BSBB x (WF9 x B7)C_n, 1.51; and Alph C_n x (WF9 x B7)C_n, 4.09. In all types populations except B14 x (WF9 x B7)C_n, the number ears per 100 plants increased. There were no significant changes for date of silk emergence or lodging, but there were some significant increases for percentage moisture at harvest and plant and ear heights. We concluded that overdominance and overdominant types of epistasis were relatively unimportant in the changes in yield potential of the two populations because the BSBB topcrosses improved as rapidly as the BI4 topcrosses, the C_n x C_n crosses increased more rapidly than the B14 topcrosses, and the heterosis of the C_n x C_n Crosses increased.

Key Words: Zea mays L. • Corn • General combining ability

² Professor, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010; Research Geneticist, ARS, USDA, and Ing. Agr. Maracay, Venezuela.

Received for publication August 30, 1972.

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