Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo (Apr 2005)
USE OF THE XENIA EFFECT IN COMMERCIAL HYBRIDS CORN (Zea mays L.)
Abstract
The pollen effect in the seed embryo and endosperm (xenia), may be explored with cultivation of two cultivar miscellanies in farming. To identify cultivar pairs of corn that show xenia effect, we evaluated the hybrids AG 8080, DKB 333B, CO 32, P 30F80, TORK and XB 8010, in cross and sib-pollination at two sowing seasons. As for grains medium weight xenia effect of 15% occurred to XB 8010 pollinated by TORK (normal season) and 20% to AG 8080 pollinated by DKB 333B (no season crop). The protein content decreased 9,0% to DKB 333B pollinated by TORK at normal season, and the oil contents of the AG 8080 and TORK increased 15% and 14% by DKB 333B pollen. At no season crop the P 30F80 and DKB 333B pollen increased at 20% and 21% the oil contents of CO 32 and P 30F80. The phenomenon was inconsistent at two sowing seasons, evidencing genotype x environment interaction. The cultivar mixture in farming is low cost, and may be used when there are evidences of positive xenia effect, considering the coincidence of flowering among cultivars to increase the chances of positive crossings. This may be indicated for XB 8010 and TORK at normal season and AG 8080 and DKB 333B at no season crop.
