engleski

Combining abilities of corn-belt inbred lines of maize for mineral content in grain

Only few attempts have been made to improve mineral level in maize grain by classical breeding, although it was shown that most breeding criteria can be easily met. No recently published data exist about genetic variability and combining ability of mineral status in grain of elite maize for several essential or beneficial elements. The objectives of this study were to analyze genetic variation for six minerals [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), boron (B), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn)] in grain of 28 maize diallel crosses and to estimate combining abilities of the eight parents. Basic parental material included eight maize inbred lines: three of BSSS, three of Lancaster/Ohio and two of miscellaneous origin. The experiment was grown in Eastern Croatia in 1998 and 1999. Mineral contents were determined by IPC (inductively coupled plasma) technique. Significant effects were observed for all traits for crosses and general combining ability (GCA). Specific combining ability (SCA) effect and interaction of years by crosses were not significant for mineral contents. Ranges among the 28 crosses were 13.6 - 30.3 mg/kg for Fe, 16.0 - 23.6 mg/kg for Zn, 1.82 - 4.66 mg/kg for B, 0.57 - 3.00 mg/kg for Cu, 1019 - 1466 mg/kg for Mg, and 6.38 - 11.01 mg/kg for Mn content in grain. The ranges demonstrate that an increase in contents of six minerals in maize grain appears to be possible by classical breeding. BSSS lines had either significantly negative or nonsignificant GCA estimates. Additive gene action appears to be of major importance in the inheritance of six mineral contents investigated. Due to no negative as well as significantly positive associations between some minerals it is possible to improve levels of several minerals simultaneously.

maize ; inbreds ; diallel ; mineral content ; grain

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