High Intensity Selection for Percent Oil in Corn¹

Abstract

Seven cycles of high‐intensity within half‐sib family selection for percent oil in the ‘Reid Yellow Dent’ corn (Zea mays L.) cultivar resulted in an increase in oil from 4.0 to 9.1%, while kernel weight and ear height were reduced slightly and grain moisture at harvest increased. No significant changes in yield, silking date, or plant height were found. Realized heritability for percent oil was 43%.Estimates of genetic variance for percent oil and 100‐kernel‐weight were obtained in 1977 and 1978, for Cycles 0 and 5. All estimates of additive genetic variance (ó2A) were greater than zero; however, change in ó2A occurred between cycles. Estimates of dominance genetic variance did not differ from zero.A comparison of the predicted gains from within half‐sib family selection, mass selection, and combined selection among and within half‐sib families revealed that maximum gain is expected when a higher selection intensity is used within half‐sib families than among half‐sib families.

Diallel Anaysis of Oil Production Components in Peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.)

“…Observed reductions in kernel mass with increasing oil content in corn breeding lines by Miller et al [8] were determined to be a function of reduced endosperm weight compared to the expected increase in germ weight. Breeding line 31-08-05-02 contains oil genes derived from diploid wild-species, which typically have a much lower seed mass compared to cultivated, tetraploid genotypes [26].…”

“…Other studies have reported negative correlations between seed size and oil content in peanut [6,7]. In corn (Zea mays), Miller et al [8] observed reductions in kernel mass only when oil contents increased by more than 7%. The correlation between oil content was seed mass slightly negative in high oil content rapeseed (Brassica napus) [9] but was positive in two studies involving soybean (Glycine max) [10,11].…”

Nine cycles of mass selection for increasing oil content in two maize (Zea mays L.) synthetics

“…The average per cycle decrease in grain yield was 0.07 mg ha -1 . 456 Husic et al Dudley and Lambert (1992), Alexander (1962), , Misovic and Dumanovic (1990), Miller and Brimhall (1954), ), Miller et al (1981 and others also obtained similar results. The decrease in grain yield in the selection program for high oil content is explained by negative correlation between these two traits.…”

“…Based on the oil content increase in the population per se, Saratlic (1994) indicated that additive gene effects were the most important types of gene action governing this trait. Misevic et al (1989), Miller et al (1981), El Rouby and Penny (1967), Misevic (1982), Moreno-Gonzales et al (1975), and Hallauer and Miranda Filho (1988) also found greater importance for additive gene effects in control of oil content. Non-significant estimates of additive variance and highly significant estimates of dominance variance for the oil content were found in the YuSSSuC0 population.…”

“…According to the same authors the relationship between grain yield and oil content in maize is still not clear. Many authors have reported correlations between grain yield and oil content (Miller and Brimhall, 1954;Alexander, 1962;and Miller et al, 1981). Most suggested that oil content increases over 8% resulted in reduced grain yield.…”