SELECTION OF NEW POPCORN HYBRIDS UNDER TWO PLANT DENSITIES

doi:10.12816/ejpb.2019.344261

SELECTION OF NEW POPCORN HYBRIDS UNDER TWO PLANT DENSITIES

Document Type : Original research

10.12816/ejpb.2019.344261

Abstract

Popcorn (Zea mays L. everta) is an important snack food worldwide with significant nutritional benefits and its market has been continuously growing in Egypt. Therefore the breeding for new hybrids have high grain yield and popping volume should be started. Thirteen new popcorn inbred lines were crossed with three inbred lines as testers in 2017 season. The 39 hybrids were evaluated in two individual experiments, the first under a density of 21000 plant/feddan and the second under a density of 31500 plant/feddan in 2018 season. Combined analysis showed that the higher plant density produced taller plants, higher grain yield and high grain moisture content at popping than these under low plant density. While, days to 50% silking, No. of kernels/10g, popping volume, unpopped kernels% and quality score were not affected by plant density. Significant variability among popcorn hybrids were detected for all traits. While the interaction between hybrid × plant density was not significant for most studied traits. Two new popcorn hybrids (Sk210×Hp6208 and Sk213×Hp6208) had high grain yield and popping volume. The additive gene effects were more important than non-additive ones for the inheritance of days to 50% silking, plant height, number of kernels/10g, popping volume and quality score. While, the non additive gene effects were more important than additive ones in the inheritance of grain yield, grain moisture content at popping and unpopped kernels%. The best new inbred lines for general combing ability effects were Sk204 and Sk206 for grain yield and Sk201 and Sk211 for popping volume. While, the inbred lines Hp6215 and Hp6208 were the best testers for general combing ability effects for grain yield and popping volume, respectively. Two hybrids (Sk207×Hp6252 and Sk213×Hp6208) exhibited desirable specific combing ability effects for grain yield and popping volume.

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