Assessing Combining Abilities of Popcorn Inbred Lines for Agronomic and Root Traits under Contrasting Water Conditions: Towards Developing Drought-Tolerant Genotypes
Rosimeire Barboza Bispo,
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Junior,
Samuel Henrique Kamphorst,
Valter Jário de Lima,
Guilherme Ferreira Pena,
Talles de Oliveira Santos,
Jhean Torres Leite,
Flávia Nicácio Viana,
Divino Rosa dos Santos Júnior,
Danielle Leal Lamêgo,
Uéliton Alves de Oliveira,
Rodrigo Moreira Ribeiro,
Telma Nair Santana Pereira,
Shahid Khan
Affiliations
Rosimeire Barboza Bispo
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Junior
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Samuel Henrique Kamphorst
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Valter Jário de Lima
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Guilherme Ferreira Pena
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Talles de Oliveira Santos
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Jhean Torres Leite
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Flávia Nicácio Viana
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Divino Rosa dos Santos Júnior
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Danielle Leal Lamêgo
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Uéliton Alves de Oliveira
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Rodrigo Moreira Ribeiro
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Telma Nair Santana Pereira
Plant Breeding Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies (CCTA), State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro—UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Shahid Khan
Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, Crop Science Department, Teagasc, Oak Park, R93 XE12 Carlow, Ireland
Developing popcorn genotypes that are adapted to water-deficit conditions is crucial due to the significant impact of this abiotic stress on grain yield. This study aimed to assess the combining abilities of preselected popcorn lines for agronomic and root traits under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. A circulating diallel analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of the general and specific combining abilities of 10 lines and their respective hybrids for various traits, including productivity, popping expansion, expanded popcorn volume, 100-grain weight, ear length, ear width, support root angle, crown root angle, number of support roots, number of crown roots, density of support roots, and density of crown roots. Non-additive action genes predominantly influenced the agronomic traits under both water conditions. In contrast, the root traits displayed a greater proportion of additive action gene expression under both conditions, despite being significantly affected by the environment. Lines L61, L71, and L76 demonstrated positive and high effects for general combining ability. The hybrids L65/L76, L71/L76, and L61/L75, in addition to exhibiting satisfactory effects of their specific combining ability, also displayed the most favorable phenotypic responses for most agronomic and root traits, making them ideal candidates for inclusion in popcorn breeding programs aiming to develop drought-tolerant genotypes.
