Scientists Use Secondary Traits and Selection Indices for Dev't of Drought Tolerant Maize
February 3, 2012| |
The progress of breeding drought tolerant maize has been slow because drought tolerance is controlled by many genes. Thus, breeders have been using secondary traits and selection indices to find the best genotype under drought stress. Xavier Mhike of Makere University in Uganda, together with other scientists, conducted a study to assess the reliability of certain selection indices and secondary traits and how they related to the conventional parameters to improve selection efficiency under stress environments.
The research team formed and evaluated fifty maize hybrids using alpha lattice planting design under favorable and drought conditions. Results showed that under drought conditions, the general combining ability (GCA) was highly significant for grain yield, anthesis-silking interval (ASI) and ears per plant (EPP). Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for grain yield and EPP. Stress tolerance index (STI) and geometric productivity index (GMP) had positive and significant relationship with grain yield under drought and favorable conditions. Based on these findings, secondary traits ASI and EPP, as well as selection indices like STI and GMP are effective in identifying high yielding genotypes under different conditions.
Read more about this study at http://www.academicjournals.org/ajps/PDF/Pdf2012/27%20January/Mhike%20et%20al.pdf.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- New Vision for Agriculture Outlined in Report
- Scientists to Collaborate on Improving Durum Wheat
- Strategies to Realize Rice Potential of Africa Unveiled
- Obokoh Appointed as New Head of AfricaBio
- Brazil Boom in Agricultural Production
- TwinLink® Cotton Technology Receives Full Authorization in the U.S.
- Corn Gene Helps Fight Multiple Leaf Diseases
- Pioneer Hi-Bred Releases 17 New Products for Drought-Stressed Environments
- Science Reference Center Launched
- Promising Results of GM Barley Trial in Australia
- CCRA Reviews Impacts of Climate Change in UK
- Genetic Information Can Transfer from Plant to Plant
- JIC Scientist Investigates Wheat's Flowering Time to Combat Climate Change
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli Nominated in Innovation Award
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Use Secondary Traits and Selection Indices for Dev't of Drought Tolerant Maize
- Camelina Mutants Exhibit Resistance to Inhibitor Herbicides
- MtPAR Regulates Proanthocyanidin Biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- IFR Scientists Investigate Genes Involved in Virulence of Salmonella
- Purdue Scientists Explore New Ways to Control Disease-Carrying Insects
- Results of Protein Study to Help Fight Superbugs
- Scientists Use Plants to Silence Genes in Insects
-
Announcements
- 2012 International Conference of GM Crops in Egypt
- GMOs Safety and Post Marketing Monitoring Conference in Austria
- Symposium on Biosafety of GMOs
-
Resources
- TT2011 Meeting Report
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (May 2, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet