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Inheritance of Drying Rate in "Mature" Corn (Zea mays L.)¹

Three "fast" drying and three "slow" drying corn inbreds, whose hybrids demonstrate various rates of drying after physiological maturity, were used to study the genetics controlling differential drying rates among hybrids. Drying rate was estimated by the moisture loss from husked ears in a forced-air dryer at 38 C for 18 hours. Initial moisture range was 30 to 40% while dried ears had a range of 20 to 30%.

Correlations in this population indicate that selection for faster drying rate would most likely result in smaller ears, later silking date, and lower moisture content at 60 days after silking. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations were moderately high and similar. Most environmental correlations were nonsignificant.

Diallel analysis indicated significant differences for both general and specific combining ability effects with the additive component more important than the non-additive; therefore, drying rate is fixable.

Broad sense heritability estimates obtained by the F₂ variance method were moderately high, while higher estimates were obtained by genetic components of variance from F₁ replication means. High heritability was also indicated by the genetic correlations. Estimates of HM_b were between 52% and 95%.

Xenia effect on differential drying rates was generally found to be non-significant.

Determination of drying rate by use of forced-air dryers offers a good approach for the plant breeder in selection for faster drying rates.

Key Words: maize • moisture loss • heritability

² Plant Breeder, Holly Sugar Corp., Tracy, California (formerly Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue Univ.) and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University.

Received for publication November 8, 1966.