Variability of the grain yield in maize lines – parent components and hybrids for the use of different genetic plasmas on irrigation

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the grain yield and its variability in maize lines - parent components and hybrids using different genetic plasmas and to assess the heterosis level in newly generated testcrosses on irrigation in Southern Ukraine.

Material and methods: Field, laboratory, comparative, generalizing. The surveys were conducted in 2015–2019.

Results and discussion. Among the baselines of the parental components belonging to different genetic plasmas, the highest grain yields were obtained from late-maturing Reid Plasma Lines (BSSS) – from 5.87 to 6.52 t. The maximum yield was given by the B73 line (FAO 500) – 6.52 t/ha. Lancaster Plasma DK296 line (FAO 250) gave a minimum yield of 2.61 t/ha. All the newly developed lines (parent components) produced high grain yields. On average, the maximum grain yield was obtained from the Iodent Plasma XN-46-16 (FAO 400) lines – 6.03 t/ha.

Conclusions. The testcrosses based newly created self-pollinated lines (parental components) of different genetic plasmas are capable of providing competitive heterosis in terms of the grain yield of over 120% on irrigation. The genotypic variability (Vg) for grain yield in the parent components and testcrosses exceeded the paratypic variability (Vm), indicating the priority influence of genotype on fulfillment of the productivity potential and a possibility of efficient selection among parental lines. For the synthesis of new high-yielding maize genotypes on irrigation, it is promising to use mixed-plasma lines in crossbreeds derived from commercial hybrids and crosses of lines starkly differing in ripening rates and belonging to different genetic plasmas.