Interaction of Dzr1, Opaque-2 and Normal Endosperm Maize Inbred Lines for Grain Yield and Protein Quality

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to (i) investigate genetic relationships among high lysine (HK) (opaque-2), high methionine (HM) (dzr1) and high yielding maize inbred lines (ii) to evaluate grain yield and protein quality of hybrids produced from these germplasm groups. Fifty-six hybrids generated from an 8 × 8 full diallel mating design were tested at two locations in Turkey in 2017 and 2018. Significant reciprocal effects for lysine, methionine, lysine quality index and methionine quality index revealed that parent effects may not be ignored in breeding for these traits. Lower grain yield among crosses produced from non-normal endosperm suggested that for high yield and improved amino acid concentration at least one parent of HK or HM should be used in hybrid combinations. HM × HM hybrids were not only good for high methionine, but also high lysine and protein. Several of the experimental hybrids in this study outperformed the commercial checks in terms of lysine and methionine yield. M2 × S1 hybrid had 27 % more lysine (58.6 kg ha -1 ) and 26 % more methionine (42.5 kg ha -1 ) yield than commercial high yielding normal hybrids. This study revealed that HK and HM germplasm can be combined with adapted high yield maize inbred lines to develop high yielding, high methionine and high lysine hybrids.