Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy analysis of digestibility traits of maize stover

Summary Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is emerging as a potentially useful tool in breeding plants for quality traits. Information is lacking, however, on its use in forage maize (Zea mays L.). The objectives of the present investigation were to evaluate the prediction of digestibility traits of maize stover using NIRS technique and to study the effect of laboratory (Lab) and NIRS assays on the estimates of variation and covariation. Twelve inbred lines, 66 diallel crosses among them and eight hybrid checks were evaluated at silage and grain harvests for 2 years at two agro-climatically diverse locations in the Federal Republic of Germany. Standard methods were used for Lab analysis of in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). In NIRS evaluation, calibration equations were developed by modified stepwise regression. The standard error of calibration was 2.5, 1.7, 1.4 and 0.4 for IVDOM, NDF, ADF and ADL, respectively. The coefficient of multiple determination was high (0.9) except for ADL. The validation statistics (standard error and correlation coefficient) were similar. In the diallel crosses, the estimates of variation (heritabilities in broad and narrow sense, genotypic and error coefficients of variation), generally, did not vary appreciably and consistently in the comparisons between Lab and NIRS methods particulary at silage harvest. Simple and rank correlations between Lab and NIRS analyses were positive and significant. These correlation coefficients based on the mean performance of the diallel crosses at silage harvest were >0.9 and at least 16 hybrids were common between the two analyses, among the upper one-third or lower one-third (22) hybrids. The study showed that NIRS analysis should be useful in maize breeding programmes wherein a large number of genotypes need to be evaluated.Abbreviations NIRS near infrared reflectance spectroscopy - Lab laboratory - IVDOM in vitro digestible organic matter - NDF neutral detergent fibre - ADF acid detergent fibre - ADL acid detergent lignin - SEC standard error of calibration - SEV standard error of validation - SD standard deviation - r simple correlation coefficient - r_s rank correlation coefficient - R² coefficient of multiple determination - h_b² heritability in broad sense - h_n² heritability in narrow sense - CV_g genotypic coefficient of variation - CV_e error coefficient of variation - GCA general combining ability effect