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 e Gama, E. E. G. Articles by Hallauer, A. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by e Gama, E. E. G. Articles by Hallauer, A. R. Agricola Articles by e Gama, E. E. G. Articles by Hallauer, A. R.

Stability of Hybrids Produced from Selected and Unselected Lines of Maize¹

Interpopulation and intrapopulation single-cross hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.) produced from selected and unselected lines were compared [or grain yield productivity and stability. Selected lines were chosen from paired plant interpopulation crosses tested from S₀ x S₀ through S₄ x S₄ generations, whereas unselected lines were derived by single-seed descent from the S₀ plants. Our objective was to compare relative stability of grain yield among hybrids produced from selected and unselected lines. Mean grain yield and stability analysis of variance, which included linear regression coefficient (b_l) and deviations from the regression (s_d²), were used to determine relative stability of the single-cross hybrids. Simple correlation coefficients among mean grain yield, b_l, and s_d² also were determined.

Hybrids of selected lines produced significantly greater grain yield than did hybrids of unselected lines. Significant hybrid-environment interactions were detected for both groups of hybrids, and both groups had similar contributions to total hybrid-environment variances. Hybrids of selected and unselected lines had significantly different regression coefficients, as indicated by the hybrid-environment (linear) mean squares. Both groups hybrids had similar number of stable hybrids when both stability parameters (b_l and s_d²) were considered. Simple correlations between mean yield and b_l and mean yield and s_d² for both groups of hybrids were highly significant (P 0.01), but they were not great enough to have predictive value. It seems selection of hybrids for mean yield across environments should be emphasized first, and then the relative stability of the elite hybrids over environments should be determined.

Key Words: Zea mays L. • Yield • Linear regression • Deviations from regression • Genotype-environment interactions

² Former graduate student (Currently maize breeder at Sete Lagoas. Brazil); and research geneticist, USDA, and professor of plant breeding, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011.

Received for publication December 14, 1979.