Genetic correlation between traits in the ESALQ-PB1 maize population divergently selected for tassel size and ear height

Full-sib and selfed (S1) progenies were obtained from sub-populations of ESALQ-PB1, divergently selected for tassel size (T+ and T-) and ear height (E+ and E-), and used for estimating genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients between traits. The analyzed traits were: EW- total ear weight (g/plant), PH- plant height (cm), EH- ear height (cm), TB- tassel branch number and TL- tassel length. The highest genetic (rG) and phenotypic (rF) correlation was observed for the combination PH x EH, as expected, with average of 0.800 and 0.778, respectively over sub-populations and locations. It is apparent that divergent selection for tassel size did not affect greatly the correlation between PH and EH in the full sib progenies, but in the inbred progenies the correlation was smaller in the sub-population selected for larger tassels. Genetic correlation between PH and EH with tassel traits was always positive but ranged from 0.020 to 0.668 in Piracicaba and from 0.06 to 0.309 in Rio Verde. Genetic correlation between PH and EH with yield (EW) also was positive in the range of 0.087 to 0.503. EH showed higher correlation with EW in relation to PH x EW and differences were larger in the sub-populations divergently selected for ear height. Correlation between tassel traits with other traits was positive in most of instances and a lack of consistency was observed among sub-populations. Generally the coefficients of genetic and phenotypic correlation differed substantially from the estimates in the base population ESALQ-PB1 before divergent selection for tassel size and ear placement. Divergent selection affected the correlation between traits under unpredicted and varying magnitudes.

Inbreeding in two maize subpopulations selected for tassel size

The present work was based on the evaluation of full sib and S1 progenies from the maize (Zea mays L.) population ESALQ-PB1 after six cycles of divergent selection for tassel size. The following traits were analyzed: plant height , ear height, tassel branch number, tassel length, and tassel weight. For all traits, the experimental units were means of three plants per plot. Progenies were evaluated in eleven experiments (completely randomized blocks) with three replications in Piracicaba -- SP, Brazil. Means of inbred (m1) and non-inbred (m0) progenies were used to estimate inbreeding depression (I = m1 -- m0) and the contribution of homozygotes (mu0 + a*) and heterozygotes (d*) to the population mean. Considering the five traits under study, inbreeding depression varied from 1.9 to 15.9% but significance for that effect was detected only for plant height. Plant traits exhibited higher depression than tassel traits; and tassel branch number seems to be more sensitive to inbreeding than the other two tassel traits. Except for plant height, it was apparent that inbreeding depression was higher in the subpopulation negatively selected for tassel size (T--). Estimates of A = mu0 + a* and d* indicate a smaller effect of dominance deviations for all traits, as compared to the contribution of homozygotes. Significant variability among progenies was detected in most instances.

Potential of twenty exotic germplasms to improve Brazilian maize architecture

Temperate and temperate x tropical germplasms were introduced into the maize breeding of the Department of Genetics (ESALQ-USP). Twenty populations designated as P-1 to P-20 and a check population were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications at Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Plots were 2.0 m long, spaced 1.0 m apart, with 10 plants per plot after thinning. The following traits were evaluated: PH, plant height; EH, ear height; TB, tassel branch number; KW, 100 kernels weight; EL, ear length; ED, ear diameter; KR, kernels per row, and RN, number of rows of kernels. The means of the exotic populations showed a variation in performance for all traits. The population means were greater than check means for KW, EL, and KR. Populations P-9, P-10, P-12, and P-13 showed low relative ear placement values (EH/PH index), indicating that these materials could contribute to lower ear placement in local populations. P-1 and P-9 showed a high potential to reduce TB. The phenotypic correlation coefficients among populations were positive for most combinations, except for RN with PH, EH, TB, and KW. Predictions of 19 composite means were obtained for all traits.