Effect of Selection on Amylose and Amylopectin Concentration in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Two cycles of reciprocal recurrent selection at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka shifted the average percentage amylopectin of the eight populations of maize (Zea mays L.) from 74.50 to 81.30 per cent, 74.00 to 82.00 percent , 77.50 to 82.50 percent, 76.00 to 82.00 percent, 77.00 to 82.5 per cent, 74.50 to 82.05 per cent, 75.50 to 82.30 per cent and from 77.00 to 82.32 percent. Selection was not effective in developing high amylose strain. The average percentage amylose of the eight populations of maize decreased from 25.50 to 20.00 percent, 26.00 to 19.30 percent,22.50 to 20.00 percent, 24.00 to 20.10 percent, 23.00 to 19.31 percent, 25.50 to 19.40 percent, 24.50 to 20.41 percent, and 23.00 to 19.23 percent. The developed synthetics can be used as commercial varieties per se, as reservoirs of germplasm for further improvement, and for the extraction of superior inbred lines for use in hybrid maize production.

Key words: Reciprocal Recurrent Selection, Amylopectin, Amylose, Maize synthetics, Germplasm