Performance and inheritance of yield and maize streak virus disease resistance in white maize and yellow conversions

Abstract

In sub Saharan Africa, past effort has registered success in developing high yielding and foliar disease resistant maize (Zea mays L.) varieties, which are deficient in pro-vitamin A. A new initiative is to develop maize varieties, tolerant to foliar diseases and rich in pro-vitamin A carotenoids. To achieve this, yellow conversions of white testers and other elite maize varieties have been developed by the International Center for Maize and Wheat Development (CIMMYT). Unlike the white lines, limited information on agronomic performance and disease resistance is available for yellow maize conversions. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of white maize and their corresponding yellow maize conversions for yield and tolerance to Maize streak virus (MSV) disease; and determine the inheritance patterns of these traits. Fourty seven three-way hybrids generated in a Line by tester mating design (North Carolina 2), 12 inbred lines (used as male parents), 4 single crosses (used as female parents) and 3 commercials checks were screened for resistance to Maize streak virus (MSV) disease at the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Uganda. The same genotypes were evaluated in a 9x5 alpha lattice design in three locations of Uganda (National Crop Resources Research Institute (NACRRI), National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) and Bulambuli) for agronomic performance. Results confirmed tolerance to MSV in testers CML202, CML395, CML444, CML445 and CML312-SR (white). Genotypes performed significantly differently for yield, anthesis days, plant height, ear height, husk cover, grain texture, reaction to Gray leaf spot (GLS) (P<0.001) and ear aspect (P<0.01). However, pairwise comparison of white and yellow conversions indicated no significant difference (P>0.05) in agronomic performance and tolerance to diseases. General combining ability (GCA) was more important than specific combining ability (SCA) for most traits, except for anthesis days, Turcicum leaf blight (TLB), GLS and yield. GCA effects for yield were not significant in both lines (male parents) and single cross testers (female parents) of white and yellow conversions. However, two unique cases were observed for diseases; yellow conversion of line CML444 significantly combined for susceptibility to TLB; while tester CML312/CML442 combined for resistance to GLS. Additionally, there was low heritably estimates for tolerance to MSV and yield. Generally, there was no significant difference between white and corresponding yellow maize conversion, implying that there is no significant loss in MSV resistance and yield performance while converting white into yellow maize.

Key words: Combining ability, pro-vitamin A, Zea mays L.