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Synthetic Populations of Maize Containing Highland Mexican or Highland Peruvian Germplasm

Plant Physiology Div., Dep. of Scientific and Industrial Res., Private Bag, Palmerston North, New Zealand

^* Corresponding author.

Highland tropical germplasm of maize (Zea mays L.) is tolerant of low temperatures but agronomically unattractive in temperate regions. To produce populations which could ultimately be ergonomically acceptable and have tolerance to low temperatures, the synthetic NZS1 was developed from ‘Criollo de Toluca’ x AS3² and the synthetic NZS2 from ‘San Gerónimo’ x BS22². Criollo de Toluca is from the highlands of Mexico, San Gerónimo is from the highlands of Peru, and AS3 and BS22 are elite synthetics from the Corn Belt Dent race of the USA. A third synthetic, NZS3, was developed from selected lines from an International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) population developed for highland regions of the tropics and Corn Belt Dent inbred lines. The cytoplasms of NZS1 and NZS2 were from their tropical parents. The five synthetics, NZS1, NZS2, NZS3, AS3, and BS22, were evaluated in a diallel cross, which included reciprocals and the parental synthetics, for grain yield, grain moisture, silking date, and root lodging in New Zealand. The objective of these experiments was to determine the breeding potential of these synthetics in cool, temperate environments. NZS1 and NZS2 silked at the same time as their Corn Belt Dent parents, but NZS1 had higher root lodging and NZS2 had higher grain moisture. NZS1 and NZS2 were lower yielding than their Corn Belt Dent parents, but in some combinations produced yields similar to AS3 x BS22. Therefore, grain yield should not limit the use of NZS1 and NZS2. NZS3 x BS22 was the most desirable cross when all characters were considered, which suggested that NZS3 should be a useful population for short-term gains. The cytoplasm of Criollo de Toluca delayed silking and increased grain moisture, while the cytoplasm of San Gerónimo reduced grain moisture, suggesting that cytoplasmic inheritance should be considered when utilizing highland tropical populations.

Received for publication March 4, 1988.