Selection improves drought tolerance in tropical maize populations: I. Gains in biomass, grain yield, and harvest index

Drought Is common in tropical environments, and selection far drought toler ance is one way of reducing the impacts of water deficit on crop yield. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate biomass, grain yield, and harvest index of maize (Zea mays L.) populations selected for draught toler ance, Three late-maturing tropical maize populations were subjected to thre e cycles of St recurrent selection ('La Posts Sequia' and 'Pool 26 Sequia') or eight cycles of full-sib recurrent selection ('Tuxpeno Sequia') for yie ld and traits indicative of drought tolerance during flowering and grain fi lling. Selection gains were assessed in five trials conducted under mid-lat e season drought and in five trials conducted under well-watered conditions . In water-stressed environments, with average yields of 1.0 to 4.5 Mg ha(- 1), yield gains averaged 0.26 Mg ha(-1) (12.6%) cycle(-1) for La Posta Sequ ia and Pool 26 Sequia and 0.08 Mg ha(-1) (3.8%) cycle(-1) for Tuxpeno Sequi a. In well-watered conditions, where mean yields ranged from 5.8 to 10.4 Mg ha(-1), corresponding gains per cycle mere 0.12 Mg ha(-1) (1.5%) and 0.04 Mg ha(-1) (0.5%). Total biomass was unaffected by selection. Mean correlate d responses to selection observed under drought were -0.11 Mg ha(-1) cycle( -1) in stem biomass and 0.025 cycle(-1) in harvest index (HI), and under we ll-watered conditions, 0.005 cycle(-1) in HI. Stem biomass and HI were nega tively correlated under drought (r = -0.57; P < 0.01). Improved drought tol erance was attributed to simultaneous selection in well-watered environment s and under carefully managed water stress at flowering, resulting in great er partitioning of biomass to the ear and, increased harvest index.