Heterotic responses of tropical elite maize accessions from Latin America with Brazilian testers

Abstract

Little emphasis has been placed on identifying new sources of tropical maize germplasm that can be used in breeding programs. Additional information on the performance and heterotic classification of tropical germplasm is needed. This study was conducted to identify elite maize accessions from Latin America that could contribute to increase the level of heterosis with the best heterotic patterns of Brazil. Seventy-two elite accessions from the Latin American Maize Project (LAMP) were crossed with the testers BR 105 (flint kernel Suwan background) and BR 106 (dent kernel Tuxpeño background). The 72 crosses plus 9 checks were evaluated using a simple 9 × 9 lattice in four locations that represent one tropical region. The combined analysis showed highly significant differences among treatments for ear weight and the interaction treatment × location was also significant. With both testers better crosses for ear weight were identified in relation to the double cross BR 201 (commercial check). With the tester BR 105, the high parent heterosis ranged from --28% to 26%, the accessions SE 032 and PE 001 were selected for further work. With the tester BR 106, the high parent heterosis ranged from --35% to 17% and the accessions PE 011 and Pasco 14 were selected for further work. The selected accessions will be improved through recurrent selection schemes to increase yield and improve agronomic traits. Afterwards they can be exploited, within and between heterotic groups, to produce highly productive hybrid combinations, or used per se as improved maize varieties.