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Large-scale evaluation of maize germplasm for low-phosphorus tolerance
Hongwei Zhang1, Ruineng Xu2, Chuanxiao Xie1
1Institute of Crop Science, National Key Facility of Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Plos One
|May 5, 2015
Summary
This study evaluated 826 maize accessions for low phosphorus (LP) tolerance, identifying key traits for breeding. Results show LP tolerance is linked to agronomic performance, offering valuable germplasm and protocols for developing resilient maize varieties.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Breeding
- Genetics
Background:
- Low phosphorus (LP) stress significantly impacts global maize production.
- Breeding efforts have reduced maize genetic diversity, worsening LP stress issues.
- Previous LP tolerance evaluations in maize used limited accessions or areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a large-scale field evaluation of LP tolerance in diverse maize accessions.
- To identify traits correlated with LP tolerance and agronomic performance.
- To select LP-tolerant and -sensitive maize accessions for future breeding.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 826 maize accessions (tropical/subtropical and temperate) under field LP stress over two years.
- Measured plant height (PH), leaf number, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and fresh ear weight (FEW).
- Utilized principal component analysis (PCA) for accession selection and genetic correlation analysis.
Main Results:
- LP-tolerant maize accessions exhibited less trait reduction under LP stress compared to sensitive ones.
- Fresh ear weight (FEW) and NDVI strongly correlated with plant height (PH), particularly at later growth stages.
- Temperate accessions showed slightly better LP tolerance, but more tolerant individuals were found in tropical/subtropical groups due to sample size.
Conclusions:
- LP tolerance is strongly correlated with agronomic performance under LP stress.
- Both LP tolerance and agronomic performance can guide genetic analysis and breeding strategies.
- This study provides valuable LP-tolerant germplasm, an evaluation protocol, and insights for developing resilient maize varieties.
