Heterotic Grouping And Xenia Effect Utilization Of High Oil Corn Germplasm (Zea Mays L.)

The objectives of the study were to: 1) Estimate heterotic groups and heterotic pattern of a set of 20 newly elite high oil corn inbred lines from four high oil corn populations named BHO(Beijing High oil), ALEXHO(Alexander High Oil), RYD HO(Reid Yellow Dent High Oil), SYN DO( Synthetic Diseased Oil). 2) Determine the oil xenia effects of different high oil corn (HOC) pollinators and their influence on yield potential of normal oil corn (NOC) seed parent pollinated with HOC. 3) Evaluate the performance and the potential utilization value of high oil double-hybrids. 4) Estimate the environment effect on grain quality of high oil corn and outcrossed kernel between NOC and HOP. 5) Study the potential use of NIRS in analyzing the concentration of protein, starch and oil of intact single kernel in maize {Zea mays L.).The major results are as follows:1. The 20 high oil inbred lines could be classified into two heterotic groups and four sub-groups. Inbred lines from BHO and ALEXHO could be taken as one group, whose heterotic performance was similar to that of Lancaster germplasm. Inbred lines from RYD and SYN DO could be taken as the other group, whose heterotic performance was similar to that of Reid germplasm.2. ALEXHO X Exotic germplasm, ALEXHO X Reid, ALEXHO XLiida Red Cob, BHO X Exotic germplasm, and BHO X Reid were valuable heterotic patterns in high oil corn breeding.3. The embryo weight and the concentration of kernel oil, grain protein, embryo oil and endosperm oil were significantly higher in NOC after being pollinated with HOP than that of selfed kernel. No significant differences were observed in kernel weight, size, density, kernels per ear and grain weight per ear. The xenia effects do not appear to increase or decrease the yield of seed parent, but do improve the grain quality.4. No significant heterosis of kernel weight and oil concentration of seed parent were observed, neither the male X female interaction. Xenia effect value of oil concentration would decrease along with the increase of oil concentration of HOP.5. Compare to the NOC, elite high oil double hybrids had higher grain yield, oil concentration and biomass, and lower uniform in plant and ear height than their counterpart parental hybrids.6. Environment had strong influence on grain quality traits of HOC and NOC pollinated by HOP, but genotype effects were even more important.7. A multi-trait NIRS calibration equation was developed to analyze the concentration of crude protein, starch and fat (oil) in samples of intact single kernel of maize (Zea mays L.). NIRS could be used for nondestructive selection of those traits at a single kernel level.