Combining ability for traits associated with yield and quality in super sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata)

Abstract

Most commercial super sweet corn lines focus on simple hybrids. Information about the general combining ability (GCA) and about the specific combining ability (SCA) are relevant for hybrid development. The aim of the present study is to estimate the general and specific combining ability effects associated with yield and quality traits of super sweet corn. Nine lines (Flint) and ten lines (Dent) were crossed in a partial diallel fashion to produce 90 F 1 hybrids. The hybrids and ten checks were assessed through the duplicate simple lattice design, with four repetitions, in two environments of Rio de Janeiro State, during the 2015 season. Data of six agronomic traits associated with yield, and five traits associated with quality were recorded. The results showed that GCA and SCA were significant (P ≤0.01) for almost all herein studied traits. The relative magnitude of GCA and SCA mean squares indicated the prevalence of additive effects for the quality traits, as well as non-additive effects for yield traits. The GCA and SCA (P≤0.01) interactions showed different genotype responses to the different environments. The "Flint" L1 inbred line presented the highest concentration of alleles favoring the increment for most of the traits. This line was the most suitable for the formation of new supersweet hybrids. Three crosses (L8 x L18, L1 x L13 and L6 x L15) showed desirable SCA effects for almost all traits. These crosses are valuable and could be used in corn breeding programs in order to achieve high yielding and quality combinations.

Combining Ability and Testcross Performance for Carotenoid Content of S2 Super Sweet Corn Lines Derived from Temperate Germplasm

“…Likewise, the SCA effect on these attributes was also significant. Moreover, this result exhibited that hybrids had better or worse performance than expected and had considerable complementation degrees in the frequency of alleles presenting dominance or over-dominance [40]. The interaction between the GCA line and season was significant on all observed carotenoids.…”

The Combining Ability and Heterosis Analysis of Sweet–Waxy Corn Hybrids for Yield-Related Traits and Carotenoids

“…The green ears were harvested at approximately 20 to 23 DAP when the corn ears reached the milk stage [ 62 ]. The following yield-related traits were observed: plant height, as the average height of ten plants measured from ground level to the base of tassel (m); harvest date, as the number of days from planting to harvesting in 50% of the plants in the plot (days); husked ear yield, as the total weight of the husked ears per plot (ton/ha).…”

UENF SD 08 and UENF SD 09: Super-sweet corn hybrids for Northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…The lines were crossed between the heterotic groups Piranão x CIMMYT, based on a 10x10 partial diallel, resulting in 100 single-cross hybrids. These were evaluated in Itaocara and Campos dos Goytacazes in the 2015/2016 growing season, and the best inbred lines among them were selected for the following stage, based on the general and specific combining abilities (Durães et al 2017).…”