A Comparison between Inbred and Hybrid Maize Haploid Inducers.

Area of Science:

• Plant breeding
• Genetics
• Crop science

Background:

• Haploid induction systems are crucial for efficient crop improvement, balancing high haploid induction rates (HIR) with resource conservation.
• Hybrid inducers are proposed for large-scale haploid production, but their effectiveness relies on specific traits like high HIR, abundant pollen, and plant height.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate seven hybrid inducers and their parents over three years to assess traits relevant to haploid production.
• To quantify mid-parent heterosis for key inducer traits and determine its impact on hybrid performance.

Main Methods:

• Field evaluation of seven hybrid inducers and their parental lines over three years.
• Measurement of haploid induction rate (HIR), seed set, plant height, ear height, tassel size, and tassel branching.
• Estimation of mid-parent heterosis for various agronomic and inducer traits.

Main Results:

• Hybrid inducers exhibited significant heterosis for plant height, ear height, and tassel size compared to their parents.
• Two hybrid inducers, BH201/LH82-Ped126 and BH201/LH82-Ped128, demonstrated potential for use in isolation fields for haploid induction.
• Hybrid inducers improved plant vigor without negatively impacting the haploid induction rate (HIR).

Conclusions:

• Hybrid inducers offer a practical and resource-efficient approach to haploid induction by leveraging improved plant vigor.
• The identified promising hybrid inducers can enhance the convenience and effectiveness of haploid production systems, particularly in isolation fields.