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 (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, E. A. Articles by Kannenberg, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lee, E. A. Articles by Kannenberg, L. W. Agricola Articles by Lee, E. A. Articles by Kannenberg, L. W. Related Collections Crop Genetics Maize Biometrics

CROP BREEDING, GENETICS & CYTOLOGY

Genetic Components of Yield Stability in Maize Breeding Populations

University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture, Crop Science Building, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada

^* Corresponding author (lizlee{at}uoguelph.ca).

Phenotypic stability has long been recognized as an important target in plant breeding. Stability is influenced in part by the genetic structure, i.e., level of heterogeneity and heterozygosity, of the cultivar. Yet, very little is known about the genetic components underlying stability, and how population improvement strategies influence stability. We examined 12 maize (Zea mays L.) breeding populations selected via reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS), selfed progeny recurrent selection (S), or a method combining RRS and S (COM), to examine changes in the genetic structure of the phenotypic stability of three traits (grain yield, grain moisture, and broken stalks), and two associated selection indices. Partitioning of the genotype x environment sums of squares from diallel matings of the original (C₀) and advanced (C_A) cycle populations into linear trends indicated that only grain yield and the unadjusted performance index (UPI) followed a predictable linear response. Grain yield and UPI linear trends were further partitioned by Gardner and Eberhart Analysis III to examine the genetic components of stability. We found that recurrent selection (RS) improved grain yield stability, and that this trait is heritable, predictable, and mostly controlled through additive gene action. Improvement in grain yield stability was observed both in cross and per se performance and was accompanied by significant improvement in the mean performance of the populations. However, the improvement in grain yield stability did not result in substantial changes in the general combining ability (g_i) estimates of most populations. Our results indicate that grain yield stability can be improved through RS by selecting solely for mean performance across multiple environments.

Abbreviations: API, adjusted performance index • C₀, original cycle • C_A, advanced cycle • COM, combined recurrent selection • GCA, general combining ability • RS, recurrent selection • RRS, reciprocal recurrent selection • S, selfed-progeny recurrent selection • SCA, specific combining ability • UPI, unadjusted performance index • P, phenotype • G, genotype • E, environment • ANOVA, analysis of variance • CG, Canada-Guelph • CCGP, Cross Canada Gene Pool • RCBD, randomized complete block design • LR, linear regression • AMMI, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction • IPCA, interaction principal component axis

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. J. Kutka and M. E. Smith How Many Parents Give the Highest Yield in Predicted Synthetic and Composite Populations of Maize? Crop Sci., September 1, 2007; 47(5): 1905 - 1913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E.A. Lee, R. Chakravarty, B. Good, M.J. Ash, and L.W. Kannenberg Registration of 38 Maize (Zea mays L.) Breeding Populations Adapted to Short-Season Environments Crop Sci., November 21, 2006; 46(6): 2728 - 2733. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Zhang, M. S. Kang, and K. R. Lamkey DIALLEL-SAS05: A Comprehensive Program for Griffing's and Gardner-Eberhart Analyses Agron. J., June 17, 2005; 97(4): 1097 - 1106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]