Yield and Agronomic Characters of Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Different Irrigation Regimes

Drought spells are unpredictable under tropical conditions and can occur at every growth stage of the maize plants. Little is known about the reactions of tropical maize cultivars to water shortage. A set of Thai cultivars was examined in the field during the dry season. Three stress situations were imposed: prolonged stress throughout the growing season, pre- and post-anthesis stress. Pre-anthesis water stress delayed flowering and especially the data of silking. Thus, the anthesis-silking interval was wider. Prolonged water stress decreased grain yield mainly due to a low number of kernels and/or thousand kernel weight (TKW). Post-anthesis stress mainly reduced TKW grain set per ear. Relief from pre-anthesis stress increased grain yield by a grater number of kernels and higher TKW as compared to prolonged stress. Genotypic differences were high for the anthesis-silking interval following pre-anthesis stress. Low yielding, early but generally drought-stable cultivars existed as well as cultivars which were generally high yielding even under water stress because of a good residual yield. Some cultivars were resistant to pre-anthesis stress but not to post-anthesis stress and vice versa. It can be concluded that ample genotypic variability exists for adaptation to varying situations of pre-and post-anthesis stress within tropical maize cultivars.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Genetic variation among European maize inbreds for resistance to the European corn borer and relation to agronomic traits

The univoltine European corn borer (ECB) has become a major limiting factor for maize (Zea mays L.) production in central Europe. The objective of this study was to survey the genetic variation for ECB resistance in European elite maize germplasm. Eighteen flint and 23 dent inbreds were screened under artificial ECB infestation at two locations in 1993 and 1994. Resistance was assessed by damage rating of broken plants, measurement of tunnel length in dissected stalks, and yield reduction in infested plots relative to insecticide-protected control plots. Flint lines showed significantly greater means for damage rating than dent lines with grain yield reduction of 35% and 24%, respectively. Significant genotypic variances among lines and high heritabilities were found for agronomic traits and damage rating. Heritabilities were intermediate for tunnel length and relative grain yield. Significant associations of days to silking, ear dry matter content, and dry matter yield of the whole plant with damage rating and tunnel length suggested a better resistance in late-maturing, high-yielding inbreds. Genotypic correlations of relative grain yield with tunnel length and damage rating ranged between ?0.46 and ?0.72. Partial correlations, eliminating the effect of flowering time, confirmed these associations. Damage rating of stalks is the most suitable trait for evaluation of ECB damage owing to its high heritability and easy recording. Tunnel length below the primary ear is a useful trait for assessing antibiosis because it is not correlated with days to silking. Inbreds with extreme resistance and susceptibility were identified which can be used as parents for establishing breeding and QTL mapping populations.     

MS1与MS1-HS两种选择方法的比较研究Ⅱ.遗传方差、配合力及杂种优势

对ZZ4完成了4轮MS1-HS和MS1选择.结果表明,经4轮选择的群体,两种方法均有效地保留了各主要性状的遗传方差.MS1-HS选择的群体遗传方差下降速率更慢,C4群体的单株籽粒产量的遗传方差仅减少3.7%.穗长、穗粗、粒行数、行粒数、出籽率、百粒重的遗传方差的变化与单株籽粒产量一致,MS1C4的遗传方差减少了8%～15%,MS1-HSC4的遗传方差仅减少了4%～15%.株高、穗位高、抽丝期、植株保绿度、抗倒性等相关选择性状的遗传方差的变化与产量性状基本一致.MS1-HS法对改良玉米群体籽粒产量与测验种间的特殊配合力十分有效,呈逐轮上升的趋势;改良群体与测验种综系140间的杂交后代产量平均每轮提高6%,杂种优势平均每轮提高6.9%.两种方法在改良群体产量性状一般配合力方面,均得到了良好的效果.同时,穗部性状及株高、穗位、抽丝期、散粉期、抗性等田间农艺性状的一般配合力也获得了同步改良.通过ZZ4改良群体与6个测验种间杂交组合产量及杂种优势的比较研究,得出ZZ4与黄早四类种质为杂种优势模式对.     

株型对玉米群体光合速率和产量的影响

在大田条件下，采用人工改变株型的方法，比较了原型（平展型）与改型（紧凑型）玉米不同密度的群体光合速率，结果表明，改型群体光合速率比原型平均提高１７．２％，籽粒产量增加５．３％￣８．６％。抽丝期群体光合速率和籽粒产量之间呈极显著的正相关（ｒ＝０．８６９２）。改型玉米群体内光合有效辐射、ＣＯ２浓度分布比原型相对的“均匀”，是群体光合速率较高的重要原因，认为玉米作物的优化群体结构为紧凑型玉米个体所组成的     

Recurrent selection for maysin, a compound in maize silks, antibiotic to earworm

A thorough knowledge of the inheritance of maysin, a flavone glycoside with antibiosis to corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie, in the silks of maize will assist breeders in choosing the most efficient method of incorporating this trait into elite inbreds. Two breeding populations, one having exotic origin (EPM), the other from southern inbred lines (SIM) were subjected to six cycles of recurrent selection for increased silk maysin. Ten per cent of the individuals evaluated in populations were selected for recombination as S₁ progenies in each cycle. Progress was evaluated as C0 to C6 population cycles in a randomized complete‐block experiment with five replications in 1997 and 1998. Maysin fresh weights in silks of the C0 populations were 0.54% for EPM and 0.36% for SIM. Responses of 0.19% per cycle in EPM and 0.22% per cycle in SIM resulted in an EPM (C6) population with 1.76% maysin and an SIM (C6) population with 1.69% maysin. Silk maysin concentrations above 0.2% begin to substantially reduce larval growth and prevent completion of the life cycle when husk coverage is sufficient to force the insect to feed on silks while entering the ear. Chlorogenic acid and two analogues of maysin, apimaysin and 3′‐methoxymaysin, were found in such minor quantities in silks that they could not be credited with any impact on antibiotic activity against the insect. Selection has effectively increased silk maysin concentration in both EPM and SIM. Trait responses for maysin are highly heritable and will allow the plant breeder to introgress resistance to the corn earworm into elite material easily.