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Genetic analysis and heterotic grouping of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and derived hybrids under conditions of low soil nitrogen and drought stress

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Abstract

Quality Protein Maize (QPM) varieties are rich in lysine and tryptophan, but suffer reduced grain yield (GY) in West and Central Africa (WCA) due to low soil nitrogen (low-N) and intermittent drought stress (DS). Development of stress-tolerant QPM hybrids will enhance sustainable maize production and improve nutritional health in WCA. Knowledge of combining ability, gene action and heterotic grouping of QPM inbred lines are crucial to successful breeding strategies for the development of superior hybrids with enhanced nutritional values. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the combining ability for GY and yield-related traits among 13 newly developed QPM inbred lines, and (ii) assign the QPM inbred lines to distinct heterotic groups based on general combining ability effects of multiple traits under low-N and DS conditions. Seventy-eight single cross hybrids were generated through half-diallel mating of 13 QPM inbred lines and evaluated along with three commercial checks for GY and yield-related traits under the low-N and DS conditions. Significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability effects were obtained for GY and yield-related traits. Both additive and non-additive gene effects were involved in the inheritance of GY and other traits under low-N and DS conditions. However, the additive gene effect for GY was twice as large as non-additive gene effect. Three heterotic groups were each delineated under low-N and DS. Inbred lines, CRIZEQ-44 and CRIZEQ-77 belonging to different heterotic groups were identified as testers for the development of superior hybrids for low-N and DS environments.

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Abbreviations

ASI:

Anthesis-silking interval

BI:

Base index

DAS:

Days after sowing

AD:

Days to 50% flowering

SD:

Days to 50% silking

DS:

Drought stress

EA:

Ear aspect

EHT:

Ear height

GCA:

General combining ability

GY:

Grain yield

HGCAMT:

Heterotic grouping based on GCA of multiple traits

High-N:

High soil nitrogen

Low-N:

Low soil nitrogen

MC:

Moisture content

EPP:

Number of ears per plant

PA:

Plant aspect

PHT:

Plant height

QPM:

Quality protein maize

SCA:

Specific combining ability

SG:

Stay-green characteristics

WW:

Well-watered

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their profound gratitude to CSIR-Crop Research Institute, Maize Improvement Programme, Fumesua-Kumasi, for providing genetic materials and institutional support throughout the implementation of the project. We also want to thank Dr. C. Nelimor, Miss J. Adu-Mensah, Dr. T. Chagomoka, Mrs. F. Siaw, Miss P. Owusu-Mensah, Mr. K. Asamoah, Dr. A. Oppong, Dr. D. Nyadanu, and Mr. K.A. Manigben for their important roles in this study.

Funding

This research work was part of the Ph.D. research work of the first author, supported by the African Union Commission through the Pan-African Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (Including Health and Agriculture) of the Pan-African University (PAU), University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pan-African University Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (Including Health and Agriculture), PAULESI, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Godfred Afrifa Owusu

  2. Department of Crop and Horticultural Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Ayodeji Abe

  3. CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Fumesua, Kumasi, Ghana

    Godfred Afrifa Owusu & Priscilla Francisco Ribeiro

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  1. Godfred Afrifa Owusu
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  2. Ayodeji Abe
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  3. Priscilla Francisco Ribeiro
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Correspondence to Godfred Afrifa Owusu or Ayodeji Abe.

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Owusu, G.A., Abe, A. & Ribeiro, P.F. Genetic analysis and heterotic grouping of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and derived hybrids under conditions of low soil nitrogen and drought stress. Euphytica 219, 29 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-023-03159-4

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