Avaliation of maize population selected for winter adaptation

Abstract

A maize (Zea mays L.) improvement program for winter cropping in Central-South Brazil has been conducted at the Department of Genetics of the ESALQ/USP. The main goal of the program is the development of normal as well as brachytic populations suitable to be grown in the winter for "green corn" consumption. Initially the anthocyanin plant color character (A-B-Pl-genes) was introduced into the ESALQ VD2 and Piranão VD2 populations, which possess broad genetic basis and are well adapted to summer cropping. The derived populations have been subjected to cycles of mass selection during winter seasons. Mass selection for yield was effective in improving ear production and adaptation of Piranão VD2 SI and ESALQ VD2 SI populations to winter cropping. Grain color, number of rows/ear, number of kernels/row, lodging resistance, plant color and cob color were also improved through mass selection. The anthocyanin plant color character was effective for improving winter adaptation in the populations studied, with no detrimental effects on the other characteristics under evaluation.