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Published on: January 3, 2014
Diallel and prediction (REML/BLUP) for yield components in intervarietal maize hybrids
I R Carvalho1, A J de Pelegrin2, V J Szareski3
1Centro de Genômica e Fitomelhoramento, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Capão do Leão, RS, Brasil carvalho.irc@gmail.com.
Genetics and Molecular Research : GMR
|September 6, 2017
Summary
Genetic improvement in maize (Zea mays L.) yield components relies on understanding gene actions. This study identified key parental lines and crosses for enhancing grain yield and quality through diallel analysis.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Breeding
- Genetics
Background:
- Genetic improvement is crucial for increasing maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield components.
- Crosses exploit intervarietal heterosis, allelic complementarity, and gene actions for enhanced yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate variance components and genetic parameters using REML/BLUP in an intervarietal diallel.
- To select and predict superior genotypes for maize yield components.
Main Methods:
- A randomized block design with 60 intervarietal maize hybrids from 14 parentals was used.
- A diallel scheme evaluated traits: grain volume relative index, 100-grain mass, and grain yield.
- REML/BLUP (Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) methods were applied.
Main Results:
- Male parents and additive gene action determined grain volume relative index.
- Specific combining ability controlled 100-grain mass and grain yield; female parents showed low narrow-sense heritability.
- Taquarão (female) and Argentino Amarelo (male) exhibited best general combining abilities; specific combining abilities were noted in crosses AL 25 x Dente de Ouro Roxo, AL 25 x BRS Pampeano, and Taquarão x Argentino Branco.
Conclusions:
- Genetic estimates and predictions are consistent and applicable to maize breeding programs.
- Findings provide valuable insights for future quantitative genetic studies in maize.
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When crossing pea plants, Mendel noticed that one of the parental traits would sometimes disappear in the first generation of offspring, called the F1 generation, and could reappear in the next generation (F2). He concluded that one of the traits must be dominant over the other, thereby causing masking of one trait in the F1 generation. When he crossed the F1 plants, he found that 75% of the offspring in the F2 generation had the dominant phenotype, while 25% had the recessive phenotype.
Law of Independent Assortment
While Mendel’s Law of Segregation states that the two alleles for one gene are separated into different gametes, a different question of how different genes are inherited remains. For example, is the gene for tall plants inherited with the gene for green peas? Mendel asked this question by experimenting with a dihybrid cross; a cross in which both parents are homozygous for two distinct traits resulting in an F1 generation that are heterozygous for both traits.
Trihybrid Crosses
Trihybrid Crosses
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...

