Cluster analysis of RFLP data from related maize inbred lines of the BSSS and LSC heterotic groups and comparison with pedigree data

Summary In this study, 31 elite inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) were analyzed with 149 clone-enzyme combinations for their respective RFLP profiles. Objectives were (1) to determine the utility of RFLPs for estimation of genetic similarties among 16 inbred lines from the Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS) and among 15 inbred lines from the Lancaster Sure Crop (LSC) heterotic groups and (2) to compare genetic similarities based on molecular markers with those based on pedigree information. Coefficients of genetic similarity (GS) and coancestry (f) between pairs of lines from the same heterotic group were calculated from RFLP and pedigree data, respectively. For lines from the BSSS heterotic group, cluster analyses based on RFLP and pedigree data revealed similar associations. GS and f values were closely correlated (r=0.70) for related BSSS lines. For lines from the LSC heterotic group, considerable discrepancies existed between the GS and f values, especially for those pairs involving inbreds Va22 and Lo924. Effect of selection and/or erroneous pedigree records are discussed as possible explanations for the low correlation of GS and f values (r=0.07) for related LSC lines. RFLPs seem useful for investigation of relationships among maize inbreds, verification of pedigree records, and quantification of the degree of relatedness.     

不同来源玉米自交系及杂交组合杂交当代子粒性状的差异分析

玉米杂种优势的研究对于提高玉米产量和品质有重要意义。对2013年海南三亚种植收获的89份温带自交系、59份热带/亚热带自交系和由这148份自交系随机组配的179份杂交组合进行当代子粒性状的测定。分析了温带玉米与热带/亚热带玉米自交系子粒性状的多样性与差异性,同时依据亲本来源的不同,探索了不同组合的杂交当代子粒性状的差异性。结果表明：温带来源的玉米自交系粒长和百粒重比热带/亚热带材料的粒长和百粒重显著偏长偏重;不同来源的自交系组配的杂交当代F₁,母本来源于温带的杂交当代F₁粒长显著长于母本来源于热带/亚热带材料;杂种优势分析结果说明,杂交当代F₁在粒厚和百粒重性状上表现的相对高亲和相对中亲优势强于粒长和粒宽。     

Genomic analysis of maize lines introduced in the early stages of a breeding programme

The diversity analysis and screening of major genes using genomewide association studies (GWAS) for quantitative traits have been exploited in several grass crops, but in maize it has been neglected. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of a collection of lines and the potential of genomic analysis as an initial screening tool. For this purpose, a collection of 470 maize inbred lines were genotyped with 23,153 Dart‐seq markers. The genomewide analysis of ear weight was used aiming to perform an initial screening in our germplasm. The diversity analysis allowed the lines to be separated into distinct groups, and most of the lines were in agreement with previous pedigree information. The GWAS revealed ten regions potentially associated with the ear weight trait, one of which was related to drought stress. The results of a multiple marker analysis confirmed four of these regions, presenting a predictive accuracy of 0.6. Based on the molecular data and the results of GWAS, it is possible to infer the potential use of this genetic background for breeding.     

我国主要玉米自交系开花期耐旱性差异及改良

通过对37份我国主要玉米自交系两年的开花期耐旱性鉴定, 筛选出耐旱系12份(K22、 SH15、 X178、 P138、中自01、中自451、金黄96B、齐319、旱23、东91、临京11、 CA156). 在干旱胁迫下, 果穗吐丝延迟, 雌雄开花间隔增大, 结穗率下降, 籽粒产量严重降低; 雌雄开花间隔天数和结穗率与籽粒产量均呈极显著相关, 是可供耐旱性选择     

Evaluation of early-maturing European maize inbreds for resistance to the European corn borer

The European corn borer (ECB) has become a serious pest for maize cultivation in Central and Western Europe. This study was conducted to evaluate resistance against ECB in a cross section of the European maize germplasm. A total of 115 flint and dent inbreds were evaluated for resistance under protected and artificial infestation conditions at two German sites in 1993. Resistance to ECB was assessed by damage rating before harvest, tunnel length in dissected stalks, and relative yield under infestation compared to protected control plots. Means for damage rating of stalks were significantly higher in flint lines than in dent lines. Artificial infestation reduced grain yield by 31% in flint lines and 20% in dent lines. Significant genotypic variances among lines and high genetic ratios (GR) were found in both flint and dent lines for all agronomic and ECB resistance traits. Exceptions were relative yield of stover in both germplasm groups and tunnel length in flint lines. Phenotypic correlations between agronomic and resistance traits were moderate to low. Damage rating was negatively correlated with days to silking and dry matter yield of stover in both germplasm groups. In vitro digestibility of stover was not associated with ECB resistance. Correlations of relative grain yield with tunnel length below the ear and damage rating were significantly negative, even though their magnitude was low. Our results indicate substantial genetic variation among European inbred lines for resistance to the univoltine ECB. Among all resistance traits measured, damage rating of stalks is best suited for assessment of ECB resistance in breeding programs because of its easy recording and high genetic ratio. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationship between genetic markers and morphological traits in a maize inbred lines collection

Summary Genetic markers (isozymes), in addition to the traits recommended by the UPOV convention, have been used in France since 1989 to characterize the maize inbred lines submitted to registration. In the years 1989. 1990 and 1991, a total of 974 inbreds has been described according to this procedure. Relationships between genetic markers were investigated and underlined the occurrence of linkage disequilibria within the tested germplasm. These disequilibria appeared to depend strongly on the breeding history of the germplasm. In some cases, these disequilibria could be related to a major progenitor (foundation effect). Relationships between genetic markers and quantitative traits were also pointed out. High coefficients of determination (up to 60%) were in some cases observed at the within group level, and also appeared to be very dependent on the major progenitors of the group of interest. The consequences of these results for breeding and distinctiveness studies are discussed.     

Large-scale screening maize germplasm for low-phosphorus tolerance using multiple selection criteria

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major limiting factors in maize production in many developing countries. This experiment was conducted to evaluate multiple low-P tolerance criteria and identify the suitable maize germplasm for our future low-P tolerance breeding. A total of 456 diverse maize inbreds were evaluated for low-P tolerance at seedling stage using four shoot-related traits and six root-related traits measured under applied phosphorus (AP) and non-applied phosphorus (NAP) conditions. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variation among genotypes for all tested traits. Medium-to-high heritability estimates were obtained for most traits. Total dry weight (DW) was highly inheritable while the widely used root/shoot ratio had only an intermediate level of heritability. Based on the synthetic index (SI), the tested inbreds were classified into three groups representing low, moderate and high tolerance to low-P stress. Regression model built based on selection criteria for low-P tolerance explained 67.8 and 76.8 % of variation for DW under NAP and AP conditions, respectively. Using low-P tolerance index for DW and SI as selection criteria, 23 and 109 maize inbreds were identified as germplasm resources that were extremely tolerant and sensitive to low-P stress, respectively, which could be further used for genetic improvement of low-P tolerance.     

不同来源玉米自交系籽粒品质性状研究

为提供玉米育种品质改良的依据,研究了不同来源的211份玉米自交系籽粒品质性状间的差异及相关性。采用近红外光谱分析仪测定籽粒粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗淀粉、赖氨酸含量4个籽粒品质性状,并在系统聚类分析的基础上进行了类群间各性状变异分析。结果表明,各性状不同自交系间、年份间、地点间、年份×自交系、自交系×年份×地点均存在显著或极显著差异;不同自交系间粗蛋白、粗脂肪和赖氨酸的含量存在明显差异,赖氨酸含量变异系数最大（22.77%）,粗淀粉含量变异系数相对较小（1.89%）;各品质间的相关性分析显示粗脂肪和粗蛋白、赖氨酸和粗蛋白、赖氨酸和粗脂肪含量间呈显著正相关,粗淀粉和粗蛋白、粗脂肪、赖氨酸含量间呈负相关;供试自交系可分为9类,其中类群G1~G5包含205个自交系,占97.16%,品质性状优良的自交系以类群G1、G2、G4和G5最多,与‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’两大杂交种的4个亲本自交系比较,本研究共选出32份籽粒品质优良自交系,为玉米自交系籽粒品质性状的改良提供参考。     

Genetic characterization of 218 elite CIMMYT maize inbred lines using RFLP markers

Characterization of genetic diversity among maize inbred lines can facilitate organization of germplasm and improve efficiency of breeding programs. A set of 218 phenotypically diverse inbred maize lines developed at CIMMYT for hybrid production was characterized using 32 RFLP markers to: (1) analyze the genetic diversity present; (2) define potential heterotic groups based on clusters formed with marker data; and (3) identify the most representative testers for each potential heterotic group. Lines were clustered using five different genetic distance measurements to find consensus non-hierarchical clusters. Dendrograms were produced to study hierarchical classification within smaller groups of lines. A very high average allelic diversity was seen in this germplasm. Lines did not cluster based on phenotype, environmental adaptation, grain color or type, maturity, or heterotic response (as determined based on hybrid performance with testers), but lines related by pedigree usually did cluster together. Previously defined testers from opposite heterotic groups were not genetically differentiated, and did not represent well their heterotic group. Discrete clusters were difficult to find; thus, potential heterotic groups will be difficult to suggest using RFLP markers alone. However, suggestions on how to use molecular markers and cross performance information to refine heterotic groups and select representative testers are presented.     

Simple sequence repeat polymorphism in Quality Protein Maize (QPM) lines

A set of 23 Quality Protein Maize (QPM) lines, including 13 lines developed in India and 10 lines at CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), Mexico, was analyzed using microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Polymorphic profiles for 36 SSR loci have aided in differentiating the QPM inbred lines. The study resulted in identification of SSR markers, such as bnlg439, phi037, bnlg125, dupssr34 andbnlg105, with high polymorphism information content in the selected QPM genotypes. Detection of 30 unique/rare SSR alleles could contribute to effective differentiation of 14 of the 23 QPM inbreds. An opaque2-specific microsatellite marker, phi057, also facilitated differentiation of opaque2-carrying QPM inbreds from the non-opaque genotypes. Analysis using SSR markers indicated high levels of heterozygosity in majority of the Indian QPM lines and in one CIMMYT QPM inbred, CML188. Cluster analysis using SSR data, followed by canonical discriminant analysis, clearly distinguished the Indian QPM inbreds from those developed at CIMMYT. The cluster patterns were largely in congruence with the available pedigree information of the QPM inbreds studied. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of SSR markers in QPM genotype discrimination and analysis of genetic relationships, and could potentially contribute towards effective utilization of the elite QPM germplasm in Indian maize breeding programmes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic analysis of tropical quality protein maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) germplasm

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important source of carbohydrates and protein in the diet in sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate general (GCA) and specific combining abilities (SCA) of 13 new quality protein maize (QPM) lines in a diallel under stress and non-stress conditions, (ii) compare observed and predicted performance of QPM hybrids, (iii) characterize genetic diversity among the 13 QPM lines using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and assess the relationship between genetic distance and hybrid performance, and (iv) assess diversity and population structure in 116 new QPM inbred lines as compared to eight older tropical QPM lines and 15 non-QPM lines. The GCA and SCA effects were significant for most traits under optimal conditions, indicating that both additive and non-additive genetic effects were important for inheritance of the traits. Additive genetic effects appeared to govern inheritance of most traits under optimal conditions and across environments. Non-additive genetic effects were more important for inheritance of grain yield but additive effects controlled most agronomic traits under drought stress conditions. Inbred lines CKL08056, CKL07292, and CKL07001 had desirable GCA effects for grain yield across drought stress and non-stress conditions. Prediction efficiency for grain yield was highest under optimal conditions. The classification of 139 inbred lines with 95 SNPs generated six clusters, four of which contained 10 or fewer lines, and 16 lines of mixed co-ancestry. There was good agreement between Neighbor Joining dendrogram and Structure classification. The QPM lines used in the diallel were nearly uniformly spread throughout the dendrogram. There was no relationship between genetic distance and grain yield in either the optimal or stressed environments in this study. The genetic diversity in mid-altitude maize germplasm is ample, and the addition of the QPM germplasm did not increase it measurably.     

Heterotic affinity and combining ability of exotic maize inbred lines for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation

Aflatoxin accumulation in maize (Zea mays L.) kernels is a serious economic and health problem that reduces grain quality and nutritional values and causes death to livestock and humans. Understanding the genetic parameters and heterotic responses of exotic maize inbred lines can facilitate their use for developing aflatoxin resistant parents of hybrids in Africa. This study was designed to (1) determine the heterotic affinities of aflatoxin resistant exotic lines, (2) identify exotic inbreds with good combining ability, and (3) determine the mode of inheritance of resistance to aflatoxin contamination in these lines. A line?×?tester mating design was used to determine combining ability of 12 yellow and 13 white inbreds and classify them into heterotic groups. The inbreds were crossed to two adapted testers representing two African heterotic groups and the resulting testcrosses along with hybrid checks were evaluated in separate trials at two locations for 2 years in Nigeria. General combining ability (GCA) effects were more important than specific combining ability effects for aflatoxin and grain yield. Among 15 exotic inbred lines having negative GCA effects for aflatoxin and 13 with positive GCA effects for grain yield, six combined the two desired traits. Five white and six yellow endosperm testcrosses were found to be good specific combiners for the two desired traits. The exotic lines with negative GCA effects for aflatoxin accumulation will be used as donor parents to develop backcross populations for generating new inbred lines with much higher levels of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation.     

Creation of new maize germplasm using alien introgression from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mexicana</Emphasis>

Zea mays ssp. mexicana, an annual wild relative of maize, has many desirable characteristics for maize improvement. To transfer alien genetic germplasm into maize background, F₁ hybrids were generated by using Z. mays ssp. mexicana as the female parent and cultivated maize inbred line Ye515 as the male parent. Alien introgression lines, with a large range of genetic diversity, were produced by backcross and successive self-pollinations. A number of alien introgression lines with the predominant traits of cultivated maize were selected. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) proved that small chromosome segments of Z. mays ssp. mexicana had been integrated into the maize genome. Some outstanding alien introgression lines were evaluated in performance trials which showed 54.6% hybrids had grain yield greater than that of hybrid check Yedan12 which possessed 50% Ye515 parentage, and 17.1, 9.9% hybrids had grain yield competitive or greater than those of Nongda108 and Zheng958, which were elite commercial hybrids in China, respectively. The results indicated that some of the introgression lines had excellent agronomic traits and combining ability for maize cultivar, and demonstrated that Z. mays ssp. mexicana was a valuable source for maize breeding, and could be used to broaden and enrich the maize germplasm.     

糯玉米自交系SSR标记遗传多样性及群体遗传结构分析

为了解糯玉米种质的遗传基础,利用29对SSR标记对87份糯玉米自交系进行遗传多样性分析,共检测出180个等位变异,平均每个位点6个等位变异,多态性信息含量变幅为0.308～0.915,平均为0.572。材料间遗传相似系数为0.49～0.93,平均为0.66。通过聚类分析UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means)方法在遗传相似系数0.64处将87份糯玉米自交系划分为4个类群,分别包含9、66、10和2份材料。此外,利用Structure群体遗传结构分析也将87份糯玉米自交系分为4个类群,分别包含24、25、19和19份材料;进一步分析表明,供试群体中大部分糯玉米自交系的遗传变异较单一。本研究为糯玉米新品种选育和遗传进化分析提供了种质基础和理论依据。     

Combining ability, heterotic patterns and genetic diversity of extra-early yellow inbreds under contrasting environments

Information on the combining ability, heterotic patterns and genetic diversity of maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds is crucial for the success of a hybrid program targeting the stress environments of West Africa (WA). Studies were conducted in 2011 at four locations in Nigeria to (i) determine the combining ability of 20 extra-early yellow inbred lines, (ii) classify the inbred lines into heterotic groups, and (iii) determine the genetic diversity among the lines. General combining ability (GCA) effects were greater than specific combining ability (SCA) effects across test environments suggesting that additive gene action was more important than the nonadditive in the set of inbred lines. The lines were classified into four heterotic groups based on SCA effects, and three groups based on heterotic groups’ specific and GCA, the GCA effects of multiple traits of inbred lines and molecular markers. TZEEI 79, TZEEI 67, and TZEEI 81 were the best inbred testers while TZEEI 95 × TZEEI 79 was the best single-cross tester. TZEEI 88 × TZEEI 66 and TZEEI 96 × TZEEI 73 were identified as ideal hybrids for further testing, promotion for adoption and commercialization in WA.     

玉米杂交组合及其亲本的株型性状分析

对56个玉米杂交组合及其35个亲本自交系的株型性状进行了分析.杂交组合的株型性状与产量性状的相关分析结果表明,只有个别性状之间存在显著相关;自交系各个株型性状之间的相关分析结果显示,很多性状之间存在显著的相关.同时,对玉米自交系株型性状的聚类分析结果,可以帮助了解自交系株型特征的相似性,从而间接地反映它们遗传背景的差异程度.这些结果对玉米育种工作有一定的参考价值.     

玉米Iodent种质在Suwan材料改良利用中的有效性分析

种质资源狭窄和杂种优势单一,是制约我国玉米产业发展的重要因素之一。拓宽玉米种质基础,培育突破性育种新材料是选育优良玉米杂交种的基础与前提。热带、亚热带种质已经被证明具有较温带种质丰富的遗传多样性,其引入、改良和应用对丰富我国玉米种质多样性具有十分重要的意义。本研究以28份温热玉米自交系、4份Suwan群体来源自交系(QR 273、ZHL 908、T 32和QB 48)作母本,来自Iodent、Reid、PB、Lancaster和塘四平头类群的8个温带玉米自交系作父本的杂交后代为材料,2015年分别在河南郑州和河南华县对28份自交系和32个杂交组合进行农艺性状评价。结果显示,Suwan×Iodent杂交组合的株型、生育期、感光性等与温带地区杂交种相近;而Suwan自交系与其他类群自交系的杂交组合则表现出植株繁茂、抗倒性差、感光性强和生育期太晚等问题。利用Iodent种质早熟、马齿的特性能够有效改良Suwan种质生育期晚、光周期敏感的不足,获得较高的配合力。     

不同来源玉米自交系植株性状特征分析

为了获得优良的玉米自交系，从而培育优良的玉米新品种，本研究通过统计分析和聚类分析对211 份不同来源的玉米自交系的11 个植株性状进行分析，并与玉米杂交种‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’的亲本自交系进行比较，从而筛选性状优良的玉米自交系。结果表明，自交系间除第一层气生根数呈显著差异外，其余均为极显著差异；各植株性状的变异系数均较大，其中雄穗分枝数的变异系数最大为27.99%，叶长的变异系数最小为6.04%；聚类分析将211 份自交系划分为9 个类群，G1~G4 类群包含192个自交系，占91%；与优良玉米杂交种‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’的亲本自交系进行比较，筛选出14 个植株性状优良的自交系。总之，本研究采用的211 份不同来源的玉米自交系材料之间遗传差异大，代表类型丰富，研究结果具有代表性。11 个植株性状之间均存在不同程度的相关性。聚类分析筛选出14 个植株性状优良的自交系，可为优良植株性状新品种选育提供参考。     

Genetic and statistical models for estimating genetic parameters of maize seedling resistance to Fusarium graminearum Schwabe root rot

Root lodging is an important problem in corn fields. Fungi recovered from roots include seedling blight and stalk rot pathogens. The objective of this work was to study the inheritance of maize seedling resistance to pathogens causing maize lodging. The Fusarium graminearum strain, 241 Fr1, was isolated from maize lodged plants and identified as the most pathogenic isolate for root rotting. Nine inbred lines of maize and their diallel F₁ crosses plus control genotypes were studied. Seedlings were inoculated at the stage of four-leaves. Disease severity was measured as percentage of the root rotted area. Highly significant differences between inoculated and non-inoculated genotypes were found. Four genetic models and two statistical approaches—the mixed model for the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and the general linear model (GLM)—were used for the analysis. Favorable heterosis of resistance of hybrids over inbreds was the most important effect detected. The general combining ability (GCA) effects were significant for all genetic models and statistical methods studied, and a good agreement existed among the GCA estimates by the different methods. The type of gene action, either additive or dominance, showed a large variation among the parental inbreds and hybrids. Selection of additive effects based exclusively on inbred lines is not sufficient to confer resistance to hybrids, additional selection should be practiced on hybrids to look for favorable dominance effects. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Testcross performance and diversity analysis of white maize lines derived from backcrosses containing exotic germplasm

Introgression from exotic maize (Zea mays L.) into adapted breeding pools can broaden and diversify the genetic base of adapted germplasm. The first objective of this study was to determine the agronomic performance of white maize lines derived from adapted × exotic backcrosses in tropical environments. Six exotic white maize inbred lines were crossed to an adapted white line (1368) and the F₁s were backcrossed to 1368. Forty-one BC₁F₄ lines derived from these backcrosses and the recurrent parent were crossed with a common inbred tester (9071) and the progeny were evaluated at eight environments in Nigeria. The testcrosses × environment interaction mean square was not significant for all agronomic traits. The BC-derived lines containing exotic germplasm contributed significantly to the variation in testcross mean grain yields and other agronomic traits. Among the 41 testcrosses, only 5 yielded significantly less than 1368 × 9071, with the 7 best testcrosses producing between 304 and 867 kg ha⁻¹ more grain than 1368 × 9071. The second objective of this study was to assess the genetic divergence of the BC-derived white lines from their adapted recurrent parent. Thirty-nine BC-derived white lines along with 1368 and 9071 were genotyped with ten AFLP primer pairs that generated 506 polymorphic fragments. The average allelic diversity of the lines was 31 ± 0.07. The genetic distance (GD) estimates of each BC-derived line from 1368 varied from 0.76 to 0.84, with a mean of 0.80 ± 0.003. The average GD for all pairs of the BC-derived lines was 0.63 ± 0.005, varying from 0.31 to 0.89. The observed significant amount of variation among the BC-derived white lines suggests that they can contribute new alleles for expanding the genetic base of tropical maize and for developing high-yielding hybrids.