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Updated: Nov 22, 2025
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Published on: June 16, 2018
Improving the sorting efficiency of maize haploid kernels using an NMR-based method with oil content double
Yanzhi Qu1, Zonghua Liu1, Yazhou Zhang1
1College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
This study introduces a new double-threshold method using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to accurately sort maize haploid kernels. This technique improves the correct discrimination rate (CDR) and reduces the false discrimination rate (FDR) in automated sorting systems.
Area of Science:
- Plant breeding
- Agricultural biotechnology
- Genetics
Background:
- Maize haploid breeding accelerates the development of homozygous lines and improves efficiency.
- Current automated haploid sorting using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) struggles with embryo-aborted (EmA) kernels, leading to high false discrimination rates (FDR).
- Distinguishing EmA kernels is crucial for improving the accuracy and efficiency of haploid kernel sorting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for accurately distinguishing between diploid, haploid, and embryo-aborted (EmA) maize kernels.
- To improve the correct discrimination rate (CDR) and reduce the false discrimination rate (FDR) in automated haploid kernel sorting.
Main Methods:
- Measured single kernel weight and oil content of diploid, haploid, and EmA kernels from various maize hybrids and inbred lines.
- Proposed a double-threshold method based on NMR oil content analysis to differentiate kernel types.
- Set thresholds based on the oil content distribution of diploid and EmA kernels.
Main Results:
- Oil content distribution showed distinct boundaries between diploid, haploid, and EmA kernels, unlike kernel weight.
- The developed double-threshold method achieved a correct discrimination rate (CDR) for EmA kernels greater than 97.8%.
- The average false discrimination rate (FDR) was reduced by 27.9% compared to single-threshold methods.
Conclusions:
- Kernel oil content is a reliable indicator for discriminating between diploid, haploid, and EmA maize kernels.
- The novel oil content double-threshold method based on NMR enhances haploid sorting accuracy and efficiency.
- This technique offers a promising solution for high-efficiency automated sorting of maize haploid kernels.
