Effect of gene brachytic-2 in analogue populations and a hybrid of corn (Zea mays)

Abstract

Three analogue populations with different br₂ gene dosage (Br₂/Br₂ normal, Br₂/br₂ intermediate, br₂/br₂ brachytic), with inbreeling coefficient F = 0,5, were tested for several characters of two levels of soil fertility: complete fertilization (A) and without complete fertilization (B). All observed characters but grain percentage showed significant differences due to fertilizer levels. Within each fertilizer level there were no significant differences in number of ears per plant between populations; the brachytic was inferior for all other characters but was not significantly different from intermediate population in ear yield and plant weight, within fertilizer level B. Within fertilizer level A, the intermediate population yielded better in ears and grains than normal population, was nearly equal in plant weight (without ear and roots) and showed less plant and ear heigt. Within fertilizer level B, the intermediate was inferior to the normal in all these characters, but yield differences were not significant. These results suggest that in good soil fertility conditions, the production of triple hybrids (simple hybrid, normal x brachytic variety) might be of economic advantage. On such hybrid was tested in good soil conditions in a preliminary field experiment. The brachytic variety used was notably inferior in yield, number of ears per plant, plant and ear height, comparatively to all other treatments (Table 3). In all these characteres the triple hybrid was inferior to the simple hybrid but differences were not significant. The author thinks that further research should be done, because there is a good probability to get successfull results one could use more productive brachytie varieties which should have their combination capacity tested with a great number of normal simple hybrids.