Genetic variation of the rate of leaf appearance in maize: Possible yield prediction at the early stage

Summary Evidence of genetic variation for early vigour is presented using maize line × tester crosses. The leaf appearance rate and associated variance components are affected by a physiological stress attributable to the transition to autotrophic nutrition by the plant. At this stage, specific combining ability plays an important role in the total genetic variation. It is concluded that differing genetic controls exist in early and late material, and that this difference is also manifested in leaf initiation and elongation rates. The ground coverage rate, as a component of plant development, is genetically correlated to total dry matter yield. The genetic correlations vary according to the growth stage.     

Yield and quality components of silage maize in killed and live cover crop sods

In sloping areas with high precipitation, planting maize into live winter cover crop sods may help to alleviate the environmental problems associated with clean-tillage production systems of maize. The present study evaluates the performance of silage maize (Zea mays L.) under several cultivation methods: CC (conventional cropping system, i.e., maize was sown into the bare, autumn-ploughed soil); LGS/CK (maize was planted into a living Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sod which was subsequently herbicidally killed); and LGS/MR (similar to LGS/CK, but the ryegrass was mechanically regulated). The research was conducted in the midlands of Switzerland on a fertile sandy loam under humid conditions during three cropping seasons. With 110 kg N ha⁻¹ (fertilizer nitrogen plus mineral nitrogen of the soil at maize planting), the CC system was much more productive than were the LGS/CK and LGS/MR systems in terms of dry matter and nitrogen yields of maize. Increasing the nitrogen supply to 250 kg N ha⁻¹ considerably reduced the yield advantage of CC over the LGS/CK and LGS/MR systems, indicating that nitrogen was the most limiting factor for maize yield in the mulch seeding systems. With 250 kg N ha⁻¹, the LGS/CK and LGS/MR systems produced greater total yields of digestible organic matter (maize plus ryegrass) than did the CC system, whereas the total nitrogen yield was similar for all cropping systems. The whole-shoot concentrations of nitrogen were highest under CC, irrespective of the level of nitrogen supply. With 110 kg N ha⁻¹, concentrations of phosphorus and magnesium were clearly higher for the mulch seeding systems. There were only minor differences among the cropping methods in the concentrations of potassium and calcium in the whole shoot. When 250 kg N ha⁻¹ were applied, there were no significant variations among the cropping systems in the concentrations of minerals. Changes in the botanical composition of the cover crop sod and in the time and method of cover crop control may help to reduce the competition for nitrogen between maize and the living mulch.     

Populations of maize with more rapid and reliable seedling emergence than cornbelt dents at low temperatures

Summary Selected races, populations and genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) from regions where maize is sown under cool conditions were evaluated in controlled-environment rooms for time to seedling emergence and percentage emergence at low temperatures. The objective of the study was to identify populations with the ability to emerge more rapidly and more reliably than Cornbelt Dent, the race most widely used to produce cultivars for temperate regions.Several populations emerged markedly faster and more reliably than Cornbelt Dent populations. All of these populations contained germplasm of highland Mexican origin, except for Gaspé Flint, and the fastest population in each experiment always contained a high proportion of germplasm from the Cónico race. The advantage of populations containing Cónico germplasm was greatest in environments where emergence was slowest.     

A Major Gene for Resistance to Anthracnose Leaf Blight in Maize

The inheritance of the reaction of maize (Zea mays L.) to anthracnose leaf blight caused by Colletotrichum graminicola was studied in eight generations derived from a cross between a hypersensitively resistant inbred. LB–58, and a susceptible inbred, A632. The generations consisted of the two parents, F₁, F₂ backcrosses and the backcrosses-selfed, Chisquare analysis of the data for individual locations as well as across locations indicated that resistance at both the seedling and mature plant stages of development is conditioned by a single dominant gene, designated CgL. A study of the reactions of LB-58 in several hybrid combinations indicated that resistance was expressed in ail cast-s even though the expression of CgL gene was modified somewhat in different hybrid combinations.     

Genetic and environmental effects on abscisic acid accumulation in leaves of field-grown maize

Summary This study analyzes the components of phenotypic variation for abscisic acid (ABA) content in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves and the correlations with drought sensitivity index (DSI) and silk delay (SD), involved in the reaction to water deficit. Eight early- and seven medium-maturity inbreds were examined in field trials: in 1990 with low irrigation volume and in 1991 with low and high irrigation volumes. ABA concentration and DSI were investigated at growth stages (S) corresponding to stem elongation (S3), appearance of the first husks (S4), and mid-end of silking (S5). The ABA concentration was significantly higher in conditions of water deficit and in the later growth stage. The genetic component for ABA concentration attained higher relative values than those shown by DSI in the same growth stages and by SD; moreover, it increased from growth stage 3 to stage 5. The genotype × year and genotype × irrigation volume interactions were smaller for ABA concentration than for DSI and SD. The broad sense heritability on a plant basis, estimated in drought conditions, for ABA concentration ranged from 21.4 to 55.1% according to maturity group and growth stage. A wide variation was observed among lines for ABA concentration: the medium-maturity group showed a three-fold range (from 219 to 605 ng ABA g^–1 dry weight). No clear relationships between ABA concentration, DSI and SD were found. These results indicate the feasibility of a selection for ABA concentration within segregating populations derived from crosses between the inbred lines herein tested.Abbreviations ABA - abscisic acid - DSI - drought sensitivity index - DW - dry weight - SD - silk delay     

Soyabean-seed Yield Response in Row- and Hill-plots under a Recurrent Selection Programme

Several studies have indicated a possible link between genome size and earliness in maize. In this study, an original maize population, South African photo-period insensitive maize composite II (C₀) and several selected generations were analyzed for days to flowering, plant height, ear height, and yield. The selection criterion was earliness. Over six cycles of selection a 14-day decrease in days to flowering was obtained with no significant reduction in grain yield. In the initial population (C₀) and the most advanced selection (C₆) 101 plants were analyzed for nuclear DNA content. A significant decrease in the mean nuclear DNA content of the C₀ population (102 AU) was observed with respect to the C₀ population (105 AU). This reduction was the result of a decrease in frequency of plants in the C₆ population with large genome sizes. Therefore it was concluded that selection for earliness resulted in selection against plants with large genome sizes. Hence, the nucleotype of a maize plant can be modified by selection such as early flowering time.     

Control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination in maize by pyramiding QTL involved in resistance to ear-feeding insects and invasion by Aspergillus spp.

Several resistance sources and resistance mechanisms to aflatoxin formation and corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) damage to maize (Zea mays L.) have been identified. Based on this knowledge, experiments were initiated toward achievement of the following objectives: (1) to confirm earlier determinations on resistance traits of germplasm sources and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with each of the traits, and (2) upon estimation of the degree of QTL effects on each trait, to generate a maize population, with chemical and physical resistance to Aspergillus spp. and ear-feeding insects, for inbred development. A 2-year field experiment to evaluate selected genotypes inoculated with A. flavus and infested with corn earworm revealed that significant variation exists among the genotypes for aflatoxin contamination and corn earworm damage. The protection of maize ears against aflatoxin contamination was primarily dependent on resistance to fungal infection and ear-feeding insects, and excellent husk coverage and tightness. A major QTL (p1) identified on chromosome 1S had effects of 54.0, 42.1, and 28.3% on the phenotypic variability for concentrations of silk maysin, 3′-methoxymaysin+apimaysin, and chlorogenic acid, respectively. Markers/QTLs for husk phenotypic traits and total aflatoxin concentrations have been determined, but more detailed mapping of these chromosomic regions will be necessary to locate precise markers/QTLs for husk traits and aflatoxin production. Realizing the complexity of the Aspergillus–aflatoxin-maize system and the factors affecting aflatoxin contamination, we are directing our program toward marker-assisted breeding to enhance or improve general genetic resistance to ear-feeding insects and invasion by Aspergillus spp.     

若干玉米胚乳突变体基因效应的研究

对５个玉米单隐性胚乳突变体、３个双隐性胚乳突变体的可溶性糖（还原糖、蔗糖）、水溶性多糖、淀粉、粗蛋白、赖氨酸含量测定，并对突变体种子结构扫描电镜观察。分析了玉米胚乳突主体的基因效应及其互作效应。     

Diallel study of open-pollinated maize varieties in Trinidad

Summary In Trinidad, maize (Zea mays L.) is primarily harvested in the immature stage as green ears for human consumption. The purchase of popular imported hybrid seed has become a substantial component of the economic inputs of maize production. The objectives of this study were to investigate combining abilities and heterotic patterns among available open-pollinated varieties and to assess correlations among five important traits: time to silking, plant height, grain yield, ear size, and marketable ears per hectare. General combining ability was significant for all traits. Specific combining ability was significant for all traits except ear size. Three intervarietal crosses showed moderate levels of heterosis (10–27%), and several yielded similarly to the control hybrids, Pioneer X304 and Pioneer 3078. The cross Acid Soil Tolerant 1991 SA-3 X ICTA Farm Corn was selected as the most suitable base population for mass selection. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations among the five traits studied were all positive and significant. Populations which flowered early were shorter and yielded less than the late flowering and taller populations and population crosses included in this study.     

Characterization of cytoplasmic male sterility in Petunia hybrida and Zea mays. Localization and activity of cytochrome c oxidase

Summary Anthers of male fertile, cytoplasmic male sterile (cms), and restored male fertile Petunia hybrida, are analyzed for cytochrome c oxidase (cox) activity in subsequent stages of microsporogenesis, and compared with anthers of male fertile, cms-S and cms-C Zea mays. The cox activity is determined in anther extracts and cytochemically. In petunia anthers, the first differences in cox activity occur from meiosis onward. However, at these stages, the initial symptoms of degeneration are already apparent. It is suggested that the decline in enzyme activity of the cms petunia anthers is the result rather than the cause of the non-formation of functional pollen.In maize anthers, the cox activity of sterile-type anthers is reduced in comparison with fertile-type anthers from premeiosis onward. There are also consistent cytochemical differences in the mitochondrial organization of cox activity between pollen of cms-S and male ferile maize anthers. In fertile-type mitochondria, the DAB reaction product indicating cox activity is localized in the cristae and within the space between the outer and inner limiting membranes of the organelles. In mitochondria of pollen of cms-S maize, cox activity is only observed between the outer and inner membranes of the mitochondria. The biochemical and cytochemical differences are observed at stages of development at which no structural signs of degeneration are apparent. The results suggest that cms in maize correlates with deviations in cytochrome c oxidase activity.Abbreviations cox cytochrome c oxidase - DAB 3,3-diaminobenzidine