Performance of maize populations and their crosses for aluminum tolerance in nutrient solution

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) populations were tested for aluminum tolerance by the nutrient solution technique. Populations were tested per se and in a complete diallel cross involving parental populations, F₁ crosses and reciprocals. The variable relative seminal root length was effective in discriminating between tolerant and nontolerant genotypes in a solution containing 222 µmol Al liter^-1. The variable top dry weight and root dry weight were not effective for genotype discrimination. The experimental hybrid CMS 200 and the population CMS 30 and CMS 36, that were selected in soils with high aluminum saturation showed to be tolerant in nutrient solution with Al. CMS 30 and CMS 36 were Al tolerant per se and affected positively for tolerance the mean of crosses involving those two populations. In the combining analysis, the variance for general combining ability explained most of the variation, but especific combining ability was also statistically significant. Cytoplasmic inheritance was not detected for aluminum tolerance.