EVALUATION OF HYBRIDS FROM SIMPLE CROSSES USING MAIZE ELITE LANDRACES WITH FORAGE OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS FOR A MEXICAN ARID LAND

Abstract

The Comarca Lagunera region is the most important area of maize forage in México. In this region; which is shared by the Mexican States of Coahuila and Durango, are used a great amount of hybrids and varieties of maize imported from other countries. Generally, these genotypes are not completely adapted to the soil and/or climatic conditions of the region. These antecedents lead scientists to pursuit for genotypes with the best adaptation to such conditions. The present investigation was carried out with the aim to find the best hybrids from the crosses of ten self-pollinating landraces following a diallel mating design. The landraces were obtained from different institutions: a) the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), b) the “Antonio Narro†Agrarian Autonomist University (UAAAN), and c) the National Institute of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Research (INIFAP). The following variables were evaluated from the hybrids: whole plant fresh matter yield (FMY), whole plant dry matter (DMY), fresh fruit yield (FFY) fresh stem yield (FSY), and fresh foliar yield (FLY). All variables reported as t ha-1. The Griffing statistical analysis was used to determine the general combining ability (GCA), and the specific combining ability (SCA). The highest values of GCA were obtained for the landraces M7, M8, and M9. The hybrids with highest SCA were: M5xM7, M2xM7, M6x10, M4xM8, M5xM8, M8xM10, M2xM5, M1xM10 and M6xM9. Two of these hybrids (M5xM7 and M2xM7) also showed the highest values for FMY and DMY. In conclusion, there is enough variability on FMY and DMY to believe on the possibility to find the most appropriate hybrid for the targeted region, and also to extend the breeding program to other arid lands in México