Genetic analysis of quantitative traits in synthetic population 316PO2 of maize (Zea mays L.)

The choice of recurrent selection procedure depends mostly on the genetic c onstitution of populations undergoing selection. We studied components of g enetic variance of grain yield, ear length, 1000-kernel weight, ear row num ber, kernel depth, 10-kernel length and height of ear of the medium late sy nthetic maize population 316PO2. This population includes Lancaster Surecro p germplasm (about 70%) and exotic germplasm (30%). It should be an importa nt source of new maize inbred lines. Except for ear row number, most of the total genetic variability of the oth er traits was determined by additive gene action. We estimated negative val ue of variance due to dominance deviations for kernel depth. The average de gree of dominance was at the level of superdominance except for kernel dept h and 10-kernel length. Grain yield and 1000-kernel weight had higher value s of narrow sense heritability (h(n)(2)=0,56, h,(2)(n)=0,5) than expected. Ear row number(h(n)(2)=0,45) had lower. In the case of kernel depth, we cou ldn't been able to estimate narrow sense heritability. The largest expected genetic gain from selection for grain yield was obtained for half-sib recu rrent selection.