HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Russell, W. A. Articles by Eberhart, S. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Russell, W. A. Articles by Eberhart, S. A. Agricola Articles by Russell, W. A. Articles by Eberhart, S. A.

Hybrid Performance of Selected Maize Lines from Reciprocal Recurrent and Testcross Selection Programs¹

We evaluated three maize (Zea mays L.) crosses among BSCBI(R)C₅, BSSS(R)C₅, and BSSS(HT)C₆ populations in six environments. BSCBI(R)C₅ and BSSS(R)C₅ improved populations from reciprocal recurrent selection, and BSSS(HT)C₆ was obtained from testcross selection with a double-cross tester. Also, we used five selected S₃ lines from each of BSCBI(R)C₅ and BSSS(R)C₅ and five selected S₃ or S₄ lines from BSSS(HT)C₅ in three sets of line x line crosses among the sources. Average yields of the population crosses were essentially equal, which was unexpected for BSSS(R)C₅ x BSSS(HT)C₆ Most of the variation among crosses in each set was accounted for by average line performance (general combining ability) in all traits.

Average yield of line crosses in a set was significantly higher than the population cross in each set and in the BSCBI(R)C₅ x BSSS(R)C₅ and BSCBI(R)C₅ x BSSS (HT)C₆ sets, the best cross yielded 35% more than the population cross. Two BSCBI(R)C₅ x BSSS(R)C₅ crosses yielded significantly higher than B37 x Oh43, and one of these crosses was equal to B37 x Oh43 for lodging resistance. None of the crosses in the other two sets was equal to B37 x Oh45 for all traits, mainly because of lodging. A modified reciprocal recurrent selection procedure using an inbred tester is proposed as a more efficient method of simultaneously improving breeding populations and developing elite single crosses.

Key Words: Zea mays L. • Population improvement • Corn • Hybrid

² Professor, Iowa State University, and Research Geneticist, USDA, and Professor, Iowa State University.

Received for publication June 12, 1974.