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Effects of Yield Component Selection on the General Combining Ability of Maize Inbred Lines¹

This experiment had two objectives: 1) to evaluate changes induced in six inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) by backcross breeding for increased yield component expression, and 2) to determine effects of such yield component selection on general combining ability (GCA) the inbreds. Within separate programs, non-recurrent sources of ears per plant, ear length, and kernel depth were crossed to each inbred. Two or three generations of backcrossing to the recurrent inbreds followed by four or five generations of selling were used to derive 143 modified versions of the original inbreds. The 143 modified lines were developed from the 18 inbred-component combinations. In tests of lines per se in one environment, modified lines averaged higher in selected yield component expression than the original inbred in each of the inbred-component combinations. GCA of the original and modified lines was evaluated by testing their topcrosses to the synthetic variety AS-A in two environments. Average GCA for grain yield for sets of lines modified for ears per plant, ear length, and kernel depth exceeded the original inbreds by 10, 5, and 0%, respectively. Selection for yield components had little effect on ear moisture and broken stalks. Response to selection varied among the six inbreds. Inbreds with relatively low expression of a given yield component tended to show greater response to selection than did those with higher expression. Adaptation of the yield component source may have influenced results from the yield component selection programs.

Key Words: Yield component conversion • Backcross • Ear length • Ear number • Kernel depth • Zea mays L.

² Associate professor and associate scientist, respectively.

Received for publication March 13, 1976.

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