Adaptation of Diverse Maize Germplasm to Spring Season Conditions in Northeast China
Yi Li,
Zhiyuan Yang,
Yong Shao,
Zhenguo Jin,
Li Gao,
Yang Yu,
Fengyi Zhang,
Yuxing Zhang,
Yuantao Nan,
Mingshun Li,
Degui Zhang,
Zhuanfang Hao,
Jianfeng Weng,
Xinhai Li,
Hongjun Yong
Affiliations
Yi Li
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Zhiyuan Yang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Yong Shao
Suihua Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Suihua 152052, China
Zhenguo Jin
Suihua Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Suihua 152052, China
Li Gao
Suihua Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Suihua 152052, China
Yang Yu
Crop Cultivation Institute of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Fengyi Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Yuxing Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Yuantao Nan
Suihua Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Suihua 152052, China
Mingshun Li
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Degui Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Zhuanfang Hao
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Jianfeng Weng
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Xinhai Li
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Hongjun Yong
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, No. 12 Zhong-guan-cun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Northeast China (NEC) is a major spring maize (Zea mays L.) growing belt, and the outputs substantially influence national grain production. However, the maize grain yield per unit area has little changes in recent years, partially due to the lack of elite germplasm resources and innovation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the performance of diverse populations in NEC to propose appropriate strategies for the utilization of elite germplasm to broaden the genetic base of Chinese germplasm. Fifteen diverse maize populations from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the U.S. were crossed to two local tester lines, representing Chinese heterotic groups Reid and Lancaster, for evaluating the combining ability and heterosis in three locations (Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, and Harbin and Suihua, Heilongjiang Province) in NEC over two years. The U.S. (BS13(S)C7 and BS31) and Chinese (Ji Syn A) populations exhibited more favorable alleles for high yield potential in all locations tested. Furthermore, the PH6WC × BS31 and PH6WC × Ji Syn A crosses had higher grain yields, and an appropriate number of days to silking, ear height, and resistance to lodging at Gongzhuling and Harbin in NEC. The best strategies for utilizing these diverse germplasms may be to develop new inbred lines from the existing elite populations or improve the grain yield and resistance to lodging of the elite line PH4CV for broadening the genetic base of the Chinese group Lancaster in NEC.
