Maize quality Breeding: plant and prolificity traits of single-crosses obtained and tested in Argentina

BERNATENE, EA; CORCUERA, VR Y NARANJO, CA.

Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter

University of Illinois

Lugar: Illinois; Año: 2004 vol. 78 p. 31 - 32

1090-4573

A maize quality breeding programme has been conducted at the Instituto Fitotécnico de Santa Catalina since 1990. Several inbreds have been developed and used to obtain single-cross hybrids, which have been tested in multi-location field trails since 2001/2002. These hybrids can be classified by the nature of the endosperm into 3 categories: 1) waxy, 2) high quality protein and 3) waxy and high quality protein (double recessive) hybrids. Waxy hybrids have a naturally modified starch (high amylopectin) that constitutes an excellent staple to be transformed for technological objetives and it is also partially useful for feed, and the textile, paper and adhesive industries. In turn, high quality proteins hybrids differ from the rest by the high content of lysine and tryptophan that enhances their biological value. As a result, they are excellent for use in pig and poultry feed as a partial solution to starvation in humans. In summary, it can be said that the hybrids studied showed regular size and adequate ear insertion height that will facilitate their cultivation. Waxy and double recessive hybrids studies differed because of their prolificity, which is higher than in current maizes commonly grown in Argentina.