Carolina Messias Silva
Abstract:
In Brazil, total corn production has been steadily increasing due to advances in technology, but also new frontiers for maize cultivation, including expansion of the second crop (safrinha; usually corn after soybeans). Therefore, the exploration of new germplasm sources is important to meet current and future demands for the development of modern cultivars adapted to the diversity of environments available for maize cultivation. The aim of the present work, based on a diallel (intergroup), is to provide quantitative information about the potential of the two groups of varieties (NAP - exotic; HG - local) as to the combinatorial capacities to direct the synthesis of new populations to be used in hybrid generation or as a basis for recurring selection. The experiments were carried out in two planting seasons (Crop - first crop; safrinha - second crop) using a randomized block design with four replications and plots of 5 m length 0.9 m, with 25 plants per plot after. the thinning. The following traits were evaluated: male flowering, stem diameter, plant height, ear height, number of tassel branches, tassel length, ear diameter, ear length, ear weight, grain yield. The evaluated populations presented acceptable standard for grain yield and agronomic characteristics, indicating good prospects for their use in breeding programs. The prediction for the new populations to be synthesized from the cross between the two groups of varieties contributed positively and the HG-3 population was the most indicated, at both times, as the most promising parent variety of Group II (HG) to be used as a basis for the incorporation of Group I (NAP) varieties.
