Biometric analysis of Tripsacum-maize hybrid populations
Glória Cristina da Silva Lemos, Telma Nair Santana Pereira, Messias Gonzaga Pereira, and Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Júnior
Objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of four base-populations of maize-Tripsacum hybrid (T1, T2, T3, and T5), eight populations related to the first (T1B, T2B, T3B, T5B) and second (T1B2, T2B2, T3B2, T5B2) backcross generations between the four maize-Tripsacum hybrid populations, and the maize cultivar BR 205, besides the BR 205 cultivar, the landrace Cachoeira, and two populations: composite Flint and composite Dent. Through biometric analyses, genetic parameters and canonical correlations it was possible to select superior genotypes for the traits flowering, plant height at 90 days, insertion of the highest ear, ear weight, and total grain weight. The average for the yield traits indicated that the four base-populations could be used in breeding programs. Canonical correlations showed that taller plants and plants with a higher insertion of the highest ear have a tendency to bring forth plants with low yield; selection should therefore prioritize shorter genotypes.