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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Giauffret, C. Articles by Derieux, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Giauffret, C. Articles by Derieux, M. Agricola Articles by Giauffret, C. Articles by Derieux, M.

CROP BREEDING, GENETICS & CYTOLOGY

Genotype x Environment Interactions in Maize Hybrids from Temperate or Highland Tropical Origin

^a Unité de génétique et d'amélioration des plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Domaine Brunehaut, F-80200 Estrées-Mons, France
^b Cargill Hybrid Seeds, P.O. Box 701, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 USA
^c Unité de génétique et d'amélioration des plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Domaine de Melgueil, F-34130 Mauguio, France

giauffre{at}mons.inra.fr

Exotic germplasm is often used in maize (Zea mays L.) breeding programs. However, the occurrence of genotype x environment interactions (GEIs) may mask the potential utility of exotic material. Our objective was to understand better GEIs for temperate, temperate x highland, and highland tropical maize genotypes cultivated under temperate or highland tropical conditions. We related yield instability to GEIs observed for vegetative or flowering traits, and determined the response of these vegetative or flowering traits to temperature and photoperiod. Forty-one hybrids grown in four environments were observed for several pre-flowering, flowering, and yield traits. Grain yield variation was related to two major adaptation factors: disease resistance and planting-to-silking duration (PSD). Yield variations were also related to variation in traits measured before flowering, such as emergence duration or early growth. For emergence duration, leaf stage at a given date, or leaf size, one simple temperature covariate accounted for more than half of the interaction sum of squares. Temperate x highland tropical hybrids had an intermediate behavior and were more stable than the pure temperate or pure highland tropical hybrids. For total number of leaves, photoperiod at tassel initiation explained a higher proportion of the interaction sum of squares than temperature. The response of highland tropical hybrids to photoperiod was larger than for the temperate hybrids. We recommend breeders who wish to introduce exotic material into adapted material utilize mass selection and/or advanced backcrossing, with marker assisted selection for specific traits with low heritability, such as cold tolerance.

Abbreviations: CIMMYT, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center • EH, ear height • ELN, ear leaf number • GDD, growing degree days • GEI, genotype x environment interaction • INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique • LL6, length of Leaf 6 • LL8, length of Leaf 8 • MASL, meters above sea level • MLn, mature leaf number at the nth counting • PED, planting-to-emergence duration • PH, plant height • PSD, planting-to-silking duration • TLN, total leaf number • VLn, visible leaf number at the nth counting • WL6, width of Leaf 6 • WL8, width of Leaf 8

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. M. Fan, H. M. Chen, J. Tan, C. X. Xu, Y. M. Zhang, Y. X. Huang, and M. S. Kang A New Maize Heterotic Pattern between Temperate and Tropical Germplasms Agron. J., June 16, 2008; 100(4): 917 - 923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-M. Fan, M. S. Kang, H. Chen, Y. Zhang, J. Tan, and C. Xu Yield Stability of Maize Hybrids Evaluated in Multi-Environment Trials in Yunnan, China Agron. J., January 1, 2007; 99(1): 220 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Zhang, S.-F. Hwang, K.-F. Chang, B. D. Gossen, S. E. Strelkov, G. D. Turnbull, and S. F. Blade Genetic Resistance to Mycosphaerella pinodes in 558 Field Pea Accessions Crop Sci., October 2, 2006; 46(6): 2409 - 2414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]