Open Access

ARTICLE

Genetic effect estimation related to seed and seedling vigor in Mexican tropical corns

Cervantes Ortiz F¹, G García De los Santos², A Carballo Carballo², D Bergvinson³, JL Crossa³, M Mendoza Elos¹, E Andrio Enríquez¹, JG Rivera Reyes¹, E Moreno Martínez⁴

1 Departamento de Ingeniería en Agronomía, Instituto Tecnológico de Roque. Km. 8 Carretera Celaya-J. Rosas, C.P. 38110. México. Tel. 01 (461) 1 63 62 ext. 142.
2 Producción de Semilla. Campus Montecillo, Colegio de Postgraduados. Km 36,5 Carretera México-Texcoco. C.P. 56230 Montecillo, México.
3 Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Apartado Postal 6-661, C.P. 06600. México D.F. México.
4 UNIGRAS-UNAM. Apdo. Postal 20. Pabellón Ags. México.

* Corresponding Author:Address Correspondence to: Francisco Cervantes Ortiz, e-mail:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2011, 80(all), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2011.80.019

Abstract

We determined the genetic components, and the correlation between the F₁ and the F₂ generations, for traits like seed and seedling vigor using a diallel crossing design. The study involved six tropical maize inbred lines from the CIMMYT. Crosses were formed in CIMMYT’s Maize Research Station in Tlaltizapan, Morelos during the summer of 2004. In order to produce F₂ seeds, F₁ crosses were grown at Tepalcingo, Mor. and Iguala, Guerrero. This was accomplished by controlling pollinations (half sibs). Seeds from the F₁ and the F₂ crosses were evaluated at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. F₁ and F₂ seeds were used to perform a standard germination test. Seed vigor was evaluated after conducting a seed aging treatment, and conductivity and seed weight were also determined. A test for emergence on sand bed was also conducted. Variables recorded included percentage, speed and index of emergence; canopy dry weight; seedling height and vigor indexes I and II. Significant (p≤0.01) effects of the General Combining Ability (GCA) were observed for all traits in both the F₁ and F₂ generations. GCA effects were greater than those of Specific Combining Ability (SCA). The only exception was vigor after the accelerating age treatment for the F₁ seed. Maternal effects in the F1 generation were significant (p≤0.01) for all characters. However, seedling height, canopy dry weight and vigor indexes I and II were not influenced by the female parent in the F2 generation. Parents CML 396 and CML 407 had the highest GCA for seed vigor, while 245 CML expressed the same condition for seedling vigor traits in both generations for most traits evaluated. These materials might be considered for integrating a program of breeding for seed and seedling vigor. On the other hand, there was no direct and significant association of the GCA in the F₁ versus the F₂ generations for all evaluated traits.

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