Super Sweet Corn Breeding by Backcross: A New Choice for the Brazilian Market

Abstract

The sweet corn market has been expanding in recent years and the trend is to maintain this growth, targeting mainly the export market. The goal was to evaluate the agronomic performance per se and hybrid backcrosses of four sweet corn populations and to estimate genetic parameters inherent in these populations, in order to achieve promising lines to obtain hybrids. The following genotypes were used for a test: the donor population sh gene, two recurring populations interpopulation hybrids of common maize, four sweet corn populations, and four sweet corn interpopulation hybrids. The traits evaluated were: plant height, stand, number of ears, prolificacy, number of grain rows, as well as average ear diameter, average diameter cobs, average husked ear length, average unhusked ear length, average unhusked ear weight, average husked ear weight, ear relationship, unhusked ear yield and husked ear yield. The backcross method was efficient for obtaining sweet corn populations with good agronomic performance. Because the sweet corn interpopulation hybrid presents agronomic performance similar toP8 x C8 interpopulation hybrid, it can be inferred that all sweet corn populations backcrossed are recommended for use in obtaining lines, in order to obtain productive hybrids, or even directly as hybrid trade after further assessments.

Field performance of shrunken-2 super-sweet corn populations derived from tropical field maize shrunken-2 super-sweet corn crosses in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…This observed yield potential reflects the great prospects that abound for sweet corn production in Nigeria. The findings of this study confirmed previous reports (Cartea et al, 1996;Malvar et al, 1997Malvar et al, , 2001Tracy, 2001;Butrón et al, 2008;Santos et al, 2014;Entringer et al, 2017) on the potential of tropical field maize genotypes in the improvement of sweet corn.…”

“…This strategy will lead to improvement in the yield of the super-sweet corn varieties, broaden the narrow genetic base characteristic of sh2 (Tracy, 2001;Teixeira et al, 2013), and facilitate the development of sh2 inbred lines and hybrids. According to Entringer et al (2017), the backcross method of breeding is efficient for obtaining super-sweet corn populations with good agronomic performance. Previous studies Cartea et al (1996), Malvar et al (1997Malvar et al ( , 2001, Tracy (2001), Butrón et al (2008) and Entringer et al (2017) reported the use of field corn to improve the agronomic performance of sweet corn.…”

“…According to Entringer et al (2017), the backcross method of breeding is efficient for obtaining super-sweet corn populations with good agronomic performance. Previous studies Cartea et al (1996), Malvar et al (1997Malvar et al ( , 2001, Tracy (2001), Butrón et al (2008) and Entringer et al (2017) reported the use of field corn to improve the agronomic performance of sweet corn. These studies have also shown that field maize genotypes could differ in their ability to improve the agronomic performance and quality of sweet corn.…”

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in shrunken-2 super-sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) populations

“…One way to improve the performance of this tropicalised population and broaden it genetic base is by crossing the sh2 maize with the more adapted field maize germplasm, which could be sources of favourable alleles for enhanced agronomic performance, as well as, increased disease and pest resistance. Previous studies (Tracy, 2001;Cartea et al, 1996;Malvar et al, 1997Malvar et al, , 2001Butrón et al, 2008;Entringer et al, 2017) have shown the utility of field corn in the improvement of agronomic performance of sweet corn. These studies have also indicated that field maize genotypes could differ in their ability to improve the agronomic performance and quality of sweet corn.…”

Evaluation of Maize Varieties for Grain Yield under Water-restricted Conditions

“…In both environments, the Cimmyt and Piranão populations reported lower plant height values. This can be attributed to genotypes having carriers of the brachytic gene, which gives a smaller size to the plants [19].…”