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CROP BREEDING & GENETICS

Improvement of a Maize Population by Full-Sib Selection Alone versus Full-Sib with Selection during Inbreeding

^a International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo Postal 6-641, 06600, Mexico D.F., Mexico
^b Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, IA 50011, USA
^c Department of Plant Pathology, African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, Rep. South Africa

^* Corresponding author (k.pixley{at}cgiar.org)

Maize (Zea mays L.) improvement involves formation, evaluation, selection, and recombination of genetically variable families or inbred lines, and because cultivars must combine many desirable traits, the process can be complicated and lengthy. This study compared 12 experimental open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) developed from maize population Pool 9A by two approaches, full-sib (FS) selection alone and FS selection combined with inbreeding with selection for Maize streakvirus (MSV) resistance. The experimental OPVs were evaluated in 13 environments in Africa, including three sites with artificial MSV inoculation. Full-sib selection combined with inbreeding and selection for MSV resistance [with mild selection for gray leaf spot resistance (GLS, caused by Cercospora zeae maydis Tehon & Daniels)], reduced ear height and reduced days to flowering] resulted in OPVs with similar grain yield but superior MSV resistance (P < 0.01), fewer days to anthesis (P < 0.01), and lower ear height (P < 0.05) than OPVs developed by FS selection alone. Each generation (from S₀ to S₃) of inbreeding with selection resulted in OPVs that were 16, 8, 2, and 1% improved for MSV and GLS resistance, ear height, and days to anthesis, respectively. Our results demonstrate improvement of a maize population for MSV resistance and other traits by selection during inbreeding (from S₀ to S₃), without negative impact on gains for grain yield achieved by evaluation and selection among the progenitor FS families.

Abbreviations: CIMMYT, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center • ET, turcicum or northern leaf blight • FS, full-sib • GLS, gray leaf spot • masl, meters above sea level • IITA, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture • MSV, Maize streakvirus • OPV, open-pollinated variety