Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Maize Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vagarai, India.
J Sci Food Agric. 2024 Dec;104(15):9265-9276. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13748. Epub 2024 Jul 20.
Popcorn is the most popular specialty maize and it makes a significant contribution to the Indian and global economies. Despite perfect exploration of heterosis in field corn, progress in popcorn breeding remains constrained due to its narrow genetic base, leading to a significant dependence on imports. In this study, 15 landrace- and population-derived inbreds from temperate and tropical germplasm were crossed with five testers, which are the parents of superior popcorn hybrids, in a line × tester mating design.
Significant variation was observed in popping quality and agronomic traits among crosses evaluated across three locations representing diverse maize-based agro-climatic zones in India. Additive genetic variance governed the traits related to popping quality, whereas dominance variance was responsible for the agronomic traits. In addition to significant heterosis specific to certain traits, we identified promising crosses that exhibited superior performance in both popping quality and grain yield (GY). The genotype + genotype × environment (GGE) biplot methodology identified PMI-PC-104 and PMI-PC-101 as the best discriminating testers for popping quality traits and Dpcl-15-90 for GY. Lines PMI-PC-205, PMI-PC-207, and PMI-PC-209 were the best general combiners for popping quality traits and GY. The heterotic groups identified based on GGE-biplots and the magnitude, direction and stability of combining ability effects would serve in the development of competitive popcorn hybrids for a sustainable popcorn market.
Using the additive nature of popping quality traits and the dominant nature of GY, recurrent intrapopulation selection can be employed to derive desirable popping quality inbreds with high GY for genetic enhancement. Desirable popping quality alleles from novel germplasm can thus be combined with high-yielding domestic elite inbreds to establish a sustainable popcorn breeding program. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
爆米花是最受欢迎的特种玉米，为印度和全球经济做出了重大贡献。尽管已经对田间玉米的杂种优势进行了充分的探索，但由于其遗传基础狭窄，爆米花的育种进展仍然受到限制，导致对进口的严重依赖。在这项研究中，来自温带和热带种质资源的 15 个地方品种和群体衍生自交系与五个测验种进行了杂交，这些测验种是优良爆米花杂交种的亲本，采用了系×测验种的交配设计。
在三个代表印度不同玉米农业气候带的地点评估的杂交种中，观察到 popping 质量和农艺性状存在显著差异。与 popping 质量相关的性状受加性遗传方差控制，而农艺性状受显性方差控制。除了特定性状的显著特殊杂种优势外，我们还发现了一些有前途的杂交种，它们在 popping 质量和籽粒产量（GY）方面表现出优异的性能。基因型+基因型×环境（GGE）双标图方法确定 PMI-PC-104 和 PMI-PC-101 为 popping 质量性状的最佳鉴别测验种，Dpcl-15-90 为 GY。PMI-PC-205、PMI-PC-207 和 PMI-PC-209 是 popping 质量性状和 GY 的最佳一般组合。基于 GGE 双标图和配合力效应的大小、方向和稳定性确定的杂种优势群体会在开发具有竞争力的爆米花杂交种方面发挥作用，以维持爆米花市场。
利用 popping 质量性状的加性性质和 GY 的显性性质，可以采用反复的群体内选择，从新型种质中获得具有高 GY 的理想 popping 质量自交系，进行遗传改良。因此，可以将来自新颖种质的理想 popping 质量等位基因与高产国内优良自交系结合起来，建立一个可持续的爆米花育种计划。© 2024 化学工业协会。
