Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Guang-Jauh Shieh* and Yu-Ru Chen

Abstract:

    The assessment trials of new maize germplasm heterotic groups were included 18 crosses between 9 inbred testers and the two targeting varieties, ‘GX1F’ and ‘GX1M’. The kernel yield of these 18 testcross hybrids were from 6,760 to 9,672 kg ha^-1, and the top 5 crosses with high kernel yield were Hi31 × GX1F, Hi31 × GX1M, 888M × GX1F, 888M × GX1M, and UH13 × GX1F. The inbred testers, Hi31 and 888M, had better common and special combining abilities. Because the cross of Hi31 and ‘GX1M’ showed the best kernel yield, 25 hybrids from the crosses between the Hi31 tester and the S5 progenies of the ‘GX1M’ variety were developed for the combination assessment and yield trials. The combination assessment trials of 25 hybrids showed that the yields of all hybrids were significantly higher than the control variety ‘TNG No. 1’. The dry kernel yield of the five highest new combinations were from 7.7 to 9.5 kg 9.6m^-2, which were increased as 75% to 115% of the dry kernel yield of the ‘TNG No. 1’. In addition, the shelling percentage, ear diameter, and 100-kernel weight of these five hybrids were also better than those of the control variety ‘TNG No. 1’. The trials demonstrated that Hi31 had heterotic relationship to the inbred strains derived from the ‘GX1M’.

Key words:Horneous endosperm corn, Tropical, Temperate, Heterotic pattern

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