Estimation of maize genetic parameters under improvement by recurrent reciprocal selection

Abstract

In the development of trilineal corn hybrids it is required to know the genetic parameters of the populations that are used to derive their parent lines. In this study, the additive variance was estimated directly from the genotype component of the Anova in the random evaluation of 182 S1 lines derived from the ‘P’ population (producers). This participates in a heterotic pattern P x A (farmers) in continuous improvement through the method of reciprocal recurrent selection (SRR). In 2014 the lines were evaluated in Xalisco, Compostela and Santa Maria del Oro, Nayarit. The combined Anova detected significant differences between the lines for most of the variables studied. High estimates of additive variance resulted for grain yield and other agronomic characteristics. High estimates of heritability in the strict sense were observed due to high estimates of additive variance. The grain yield showed a high heritability of 0.63, similar to most of the estimates studied in corn. A high heritability was observed in all the characters of the performance components. Heritability estimates varied from 0.54 to 0.87 and are in the similar ranges that have been observed in most studies conducted in corn. The values are adequate to have progress in the evaluated characters of the population P; which will allow for the case of the development of trilinear hybrids to find simple intra-cross combinations that can be used as simple female crosses in the production of grain and seed.