Characterisation and evaluation towards selection of maize landraces with the best per se performances
Authors
Popović, AleksandarKravić, Natalija
Prodanović, Slaven
Filipović, Milomir
Sečanski, Mile
Babić, Vojka
Miriţescu, Mihai
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The narrow genetic base of commercial maize varieties emphasise the necessity for conservation, characterisation and utilisation of germplasm stored within gene banks. Broad genetic variability preserved in the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje (MRIZP) gene bank, which includes accessions which originated from the Western Balkan, as a part of European corn-belt, is an exceptional source of desirable traits for enriching breeders' working collections for maize breeding under temperate conditions. Preliminary screening for abiotic stress tolerance, which marked 321 maize landraces, served as the first step in stratification process of selecting a smaller number of accessions from the entire gene bank local collection. After classification of these landraces into eleven homogenous groups, the objective of this study was to continue the stratification process of selection (as a second step), based on evaluation of agro-morphological traits of interest for breeding. The conducted evaluat...ion highlighted 40 landraces with the best per se performances, important for breeding. Out of them, 28 early-maturing flint landraces with stiff stalks, low positioned ears, high yield potential and good general ear assessment could be considered as valuable source for their introgression into elite flint germplasm pool.
Keywords:
flints / gene bank / heterotic potential / pre-breeding / Zea mays LSource:
Romanian Agricultural Research, 2020, 2020, 37, 49-58Publisher:
- Fundulea, National Agricultural Research and Development Institute
Funding / projects:
- Exploitation of maize diversity to improve grain quality and drought tolerance (RS-MESTD-Technological Development (TD or TR)-31028)
- 332160 UØ, as a part of the Norwegian "Programme in Higher Education, Research and Development (HERD) in the Western Balkans: HERD/Agriculture".