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Grain yield gains and associated traits in tropical × temperate maize germplasm under high and low plant density

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Abstract

Development of ideal breeding and crop management strategies that can improve maize grain yield under tropical environments is crucial. In the temperate regions, such yield improvements were achieved through use of genotypes that are adapted to  high plant population density stress. However, tropical germplasm has poor tolerance to high plant population density stress, and thus it should be improved by introgressing temperate maize germplasm. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic gains and identify traits associated with such gains in stable and high yielding temperate × tropical hybrids under low and high plant population densities. A total of 200 hybrids derived from a line × tester mating design of tropical × temperate germplasm were developed. These hybrids were evaluated for grain yield and allied traits under varied plant population densities. High yielding and stable hybrids, such as 15XH214, 15XH215 and 15XH121, were resistant to lodging and had higher number of leaves above the cob. The high genetic gains of 26% and desirable stress tolerance indices of these hybrids made them better performers over check hybrids under high plant population density. At high plant population density yield was correlated to stem lodging and number of leaves above the cob. Future gains in grain yield of these hybrids derived from temperate × tropical maize germplasm can be achieved by exploiting indirect selection for resistance to stem lodging and increased number of leaves above the cob under high plant density conditions.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the National Research Foundation of South Africa for funding this work. We are also thankful to the University of KwaZulu Natal, Republic of South Africa for the provision of the germplasm used in this study.

Funding

The National Research Foundation of South Africa funded this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Vince Ndou & John Derera

  2. Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Edmore Gasura

  3. African Plant Nutrition Institute, Benguerir, Morocco

    Pauline Chivenge

  4. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Rd, Ibadan, Nigeria

    John Derera

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  1. Vince Ndou
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  2. Edmore Gasura
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  3. Pauline Chivenge
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  4. John Derera
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Correspondence to John Derera.

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Ndou, V., Gasura, E., Chivenge, P. et al. Grain yield gains and associated traits in tropical × temperate maize germplasm under high and low plant density. Euphytica 217, 186 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-021-02918-5

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