Ghazy Nasr A, Al-Zaban Mayasar I, Safhi Fatmah Ahmed, Aljabri Maha, Kafsheer Doaa A, Ben Abdelmalek Imen, Kamara Mohamed M, Mansour Elsayed, Hamden Salem
Maize and Sugar Crops Diseases Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12112, Egypt.
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
Life (Basel). 2024 Dec 5;14(12):1609. doi: 10.3390/life14121609.
Late wilt disease caused by the fungal pathogen represents a major threat to maize cultivation in the Mediterranean region. Developing resistant hybrids and high-yielding offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution to mitigate yield losses. Therefore, this study evaluated genetic variation, combining abilities, and inheritance patterns in newly developed twenty-seven maize hybrids for grain yield and resistance to late wilt disease under artificial inoculation across two growing seasons. The results indicated highly significant variations among assessed hybrids for all measured traits. Combining ability analysis identified IL-306, IL-304, and IL-303 as excellent combiners for grain yield and late wilt resistance, positioning them as superior candidates for hybrid development. Additionally, IL-302 was identified as a strong general combiner for earliness, and IL-307 and IL-309 demonstrated potential for producing short-statured hybrids critical for improving lodging tolerance and maximizing yield. Specific combining ability effects indicated promising earliness, yield, and disease-resistance hybrids, including IL-303×T2 and IL-306×T1. GGE biplots presented optimal line×tester combinations, offering strategic guidance for hybrid development. The principal component analysis demonstrated strong associations between grain yield, late wilt resistance, and key agronomic traits, such as ear length and kernel number. The observed robust positive association between grain yield, late wilt resistance, and yield attributes suggests selection potential for improving maize productivity. Moreover, the genotypic correlations revealed that earlier silking, taller plants, and higher kernel counts were strongly linked to enhanced yield potential. Genetic parameter estimates indicated a predominance of non-additive genetic effects for most traits, with moderate to high broad-sense heritability suggesting substantial genetic contributions to phenotypic variance. This research provides valuable insights to support the development of disease-resistant and high-yielding maize hybrids addressing critical food security challenges.
由真菌病原体引起的玉米后期枯萎病对地中海地区的玉米种植构成了重大威胁。培育抗病杂交种和高产杂交种为减轻产量损失提供了一种经济高效且环境可持续的解决方案。因此，本研究评估了新培育的27个玉米杂交种在两个生长季节人工接种条件下，籽粒产量和对后期枯萎病抗性的遗传变异、配合力及遗传模式。结果表明，所有被测性状在评估的杂交种之间存在极显著差异。配合力分析确定IL - 306、IL - 304和IL - 303是籽粒产量和后期枯萎病抗性的优良配合者，使其成为杂交种培育的优良候选者。此外，IL - 302被确定为早熟的强一般配合者，IL - 307和IL - 309显示出培育矮秆杂交种的潜力，这对提高耐倒伏性和最大化产量至关重要。特殊配合力效应表明了一些有前景的早熟、高产和抗病杂交种，包括IL - 303×T2和IL - 306×T1。GGE双标图展示了最佳的系×测验种组合，为杂交种培育提供了战略指导。主成分分析表明籽粒产量、后期枯萎病抗性与关键农艺性状如穗长和粒数之间存在强关联。观察到的籽粒产量、后期枯萎病抗性和产量性状之间的强正相关表明了提高玉米生产力的选择潜力。此外，基因型相关性表明，较早抽丝、较高植株和较多粒数与提高产量潜力密切相关。遗传参数估计表明，大多数性状的非加性遗传效应占主导，中等至高的广义遗传力表明遗传对表型变异有重大贡献。本研究提供了有价值的见解，以支持开发抗病高产玉米杂交种，应对关键粮食安全挑战。
