DIVERGENCIA GENÉTICA DE GENOTIPOS DE MAÍZ CULTIVADOS BAJO FERTILIZACIÓN NITROGENADA E INOCULACIÓN CON Azospirillum brasilense

Objetivou-se avaliar e caracterizar o desempenho agronômico de genótipos de milho submetidos a dois fornecimentos de nitrogênio (químico e biológico). O experimento foi conduzido na em segunda safra 2017 e primeira safra 2017/2018, utilizando-se 48 genótipos de milho. Foram adotados dois manejos de fornecimento de nitrogênio em cobertura, sendo eles (1) aplicação de 140 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio mineral em cobertura e (2) inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense (600 mL ha-1 via solo). Os dados foram submetidos a análises exploratórias multivariadas de agrupamento, por método hierárquico, e de componentes principais. Foram identificados quatro grupos, associando as maiores produtividades de grãos com plantas com maior altura e as menores produtividades com período de florescimento curto, plantas com menor altura a com maiores taxas de quebramento e acamamento. Os dois primeiros componentes principais explicaram 70,67% e 66,54% da variabilidade total dos dados para a inoculação com A. brasilense e adubação nitrogenada em cobertura, respectivamente. As análises exploratórias de dados são ferramentas eficientes na caracterização, seleção e agrupamento de genótipos superiores e contrastantes de milho aos manejos de fornecimento de nitrogênio.The aim was to characterize and evaluate the agronomic performance of corn genotypes submitted to two nitrogen supply managements (chemical and biological). The experiment was conducted in the first season (summer season) of the 2017/2018 agricultural year, using 48 corn genotypes. Two managements of nitrogen supply in topdressing were adopted, namely (1) application of 140 kg ha-1 of mineral nitrogen in coverage (urea) and (2) inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense (600 mL ha-1 via soil). The data were submitted to exploratory multivariate analysis of grouping, by hierarchical method, and of main components. Four groups were identified, associating the highest grain yields with plants with higher height and the lowest yields with short flowering period, plants with shorter height and with higher rates of breakage and lodging. The first two main components explained 70.67% and 66.54% of the total variability of the data for inoculation with A. brasilense and nitrogen fertilization in topdressing, respectively. Exploratory data analysis is an efficient tool in the characterization, selection and grouping of superior and contrasting maize genotypes for nitrogen supply management.El objetivo fue caracterizar y evaluar el rendimiento agronómico de los genotipos de maíz sometidos a dos gestiones de suministro de nitrógeno (químico y biológico). El experimento se realizó en la primera cosecha (cosecha de verano) del año agrícola 2017/2018, utilizando 48 genotipos de maíz. Se adoptaron dos gestiones de suministro de nitrógeno en cobertura, a saber (1) la aplicación de 140 kg ha-1 de nitrógeno mineral en cobertura (urea) y (2) la inoculación con Azospirillum brasilense (600 ml ha-1 a través del suelo). Los datos se sometieron a análisis exploratorios multivariados de agrupación, por método jerárquico y de componentes principales. Se identificaron cuatro grupos, que asociaron los rendimientos de grano más altos con plantas con mayor altura y los rendimientos más bajos con un período de floración corto, plantas con altura más corta y con mayores tasas de rotura y alojamiento. Los primeros dos componentes principales explicaron el 70.67% y el 66.54% de la variabilidad total de los datos para la inoculación con A. brasilense y la fertilización nitrogenada en cobertura, respectivamente. El análisis exploratorio de datos es una herramienta eficiente en la caracterización, selección y agrupamiento de genotipos de maíz superiores y contrastantes para el manejo de la oferta de nitrógeno

Estimation and classification of popping expansion capacity in popcorn breeding programs using NIR spectroscopy

One of the most important quality traits in popcorn breeding programs is the popping expansion (PE) capacity of the kernel, which is the ratio of the volume of the popcorn to the weight of the kernel. In this study, we evaluated whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIR spectroscopy) could be used as a tool in popcorn breeding programs to routinely predict and/or discriminate popcorn genotypes on the basis of their PE. Three generations (F1, F2, and F2:3) were developed in three planting seasons by manual cross-pollination and self-pollination. A total of 376 ears from the F2:3 generation were selected, shelled, and subjected to phenotypic analysis. Genetic variability was observed in the F2 and F2:3 generations, and their average PE value was 31.5 ± 6.7 mL.g-1. PE prediction models using partial least square (PLS) regression were developed, and the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) was 6.08 mL.g-1, while the coefficient of determination (RC 2) was 0.26. The model developed by principal component analysis with quadratic discriminant analysis (PCA-QDA) was the best for discriminating the kernels with low PE (≤ 30 mL.g-1) from those with high PE (> 30 mL.g-1) with an accuracy of 78%, sensitivity of 81.2%, and specificity of 72.2%. Although NIR spectroscopy appears to be a promising non-destructive method for assessing the PE of intact popcorn kernels for narrow breeding populations, greater variability and larger sample sizes would help improve the robustness of the predictive and classificatory models

Use of genomic and phenotypic selection in lines to predict maize testcrosses

Há tempos os melhoristas tentam prever as performances de híbridos a partir de informações das suas linhagens parentais. A aplicação mais promissora dos marcadores moleculares no melhoramento de plantas é sua utilização na seleção. A produção de grãos é o caráter de maior interesse para os melhoristas e caracteriza-se por ser controlado por grande número de locos, sofrendo acentuado efeito ambiental. Ela é função direta dos seus componentes e, como esses caracteres são correlacionados com a produção, eles podem ser utilizados na seleção indireta para aumentar a produção. Os objetivos desse estudo foram: estimar coeficientes de correlação entre linhagens S1 de milho e seus testecrosses; mapear QTL e verificar a congruência destes nas linhagens e nos testecrosses; obter médias preditas das linhagens com base em informações de marcadores moleculares; e verificar a possibilidade de selecionar testecrosses com base nas médias preditas das linhagens, para diversos caracteres. Foram avaliadas 256 linhagens S1 e 512 testecrosses dessas linhagens com dois testadores, em experimentos em látices simples 16x16 em seis ambientes. Foram avaliados os caracteres produção de grãos, acamamento e quebramento, florescimento masculino e feminino, intervalo entre florescimentos, altura da planta e da espiga, posição relativa da espiga, e os componentes da produção nas linhagens. Para o mapeamento de QTL nas linhagens e nos testecrosses foi utilizado um mapa genético com 177 marcadores microssatélites e o modelo de mapeamento por intervalo composto expandido para múltiplos ambientes. Além das médias fenotípicas das duas gerações, foram obtidas médias preditas das linhagens com base nos efeitos dos QTL e também com base em todos os marcadores do genoma. Os coeficientes de correlação entre as médias fenotípicas das linhagens e dos testecrosses variaram de reduzidos para produção de grãos até moderados para os caracteres de ciclo e estatura. Considerando os componentes da produção das linhagens e a produção dos testecrosses, a maioria das correlações não foram significativas e, quando foram, as magnitudes destas foram baixas. A congruência de QTL detectados nas linhagens e nos testecrosses foi pequena para todos os caracteres considerados. As correlações entre as médias preditas das linhagens e as médias fenotípicas dos testecrosses apresentaram resultados semelhantes àqueles obtidos considerando as médias fenotípicas das linhagens. As maiores coincidências de linhagens S1 e testecrosses superiores selecionados foram observadas para os caracteres de ciclo e estatura e, as menores, ocorreram para produção de grãos e seus componentes. Portanto, mesmo utilizando-se informações de marcadores moleculares, só é possível prever a performance de testecrosses a partir de informações das linhagens para os caracteres menos complexos e com reduzido efeito de dominância, além de não ser possível praticar seleção indireta para a produção dos testecrosses baseada nos componentes das linhagens. Nestes casos, as informações dos marcadores devem ser obtidas diretamente nos testecrosses. Mesmo utilizando informações de marcadores, a seleção pode ser iniciada durante a obtenção das linhagens para alguns caracteres mas, para outros, a seleção deve ser realizada pela avaliação das linhagens em cruzamentos.For a long time breeders have been trying to predict the performance of hybrids based on the performance from their parental lines. The most promising application of molecular markers in plant breeding is their use in selection. Grain yield is the most important trait to breeders and it is controlled by a large number of loci undergoing accentuated environmental effect. It is a direct function of its components and as these traits are correlated with yield, they can be used for indirect selection to increase grain yield. The objectives of this research were to estimate correlations between S1 maize lines and their testcrosses; map QTL and verify its congruence in lines and testcrosses; predict means of the lines by using information from molecular markers; and verify the possibility to select testecrosses from the predict means of the lines for several traits. Two-hundred and fifty six S1 lines and five-hundred and twelve testcrosses of these lines with two testers were evaluated in simple lattice 16x16 design in six environments. The traits analyzed were grain yield, plant lodging, days to anthesis, days to silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant and ear height, ear placement, and the yield components in the lines. A genetic map with 177 microsatellite markers and the multiple-environmental composite interval mapping model were used to map QTL in the lines and in their testcrosses. In addition to the phenotypic means of the two generations, the predicted means of the lines based on QTL effects and based in all markers were obtained. The correlation coefficients between the phenotypic means of the lines and of the testcrosses ranged from low to grain yield to moderate for cycle and stature traits. Considering the grain yield components of the lines and yield of the testcrosses, most of the correlations were not significant and, when they were, their magnitudes were low. The congruence of QTL detected in the lines and testcrosses were small for all traits. The correlations between the predict means of the lines and the phenotypic means of the testcrosses showed similar results with those obtained by the lines phenotypic means. The highest coincidences of selected superior S1 lines and testcrosses were observed for cycle and stature traits and the lowest for grain yield and its components. Therefore, even by using molecular markers information, it is only possible to predict the testcrosses performance from the lines information to less complex traits and with small dominance effects, as well as not being possible to carry out indirect selection to testcrosses yield based on the components of the lines. For these cases, the markers information must be obtained directly from the testcrosses. Even by using markers information, selection may be initiated during lines development for some traits, but to others, the selection must be made by evaluation of the lines in crosses

Metodologia para seleção de linhagens de soja visando germinação, vigor e emergência em campo

RESUMO Cultivares de soja com sementes de maior qualidade fisiológica são de interesse para agricultores e empresas de sementes. Assim, objetivou-se com esse estudo verificar a variabilidade genética e as relações existentes entre caracteres das sementes visando identificar testes passíveis de utilização em laboratório para a seleção de linhagens de soja com sementes de maior germinação, vigor e desempenho em campo. Sementes de 62 linhagens avançadas de soja foram caracterizadas quanto ao teste da primeira contagem e germinação, classificação do vigor de plântulas, condutividade elétrica, teste de envelhecimento acelerado, massa de matéria seca de plântulas e emergência de plântulas em campo. O teor de água das sementes foi determinado antes dos testes de avaliação da qualidade e após o envelhecimento acelerado. Os dados experimentais foram submetidos à análise de variância e covariância estimando-se as correlações fenotípicas, genotípicas e ambientais; herdabilidade; coeficiente de variação genética e ganho por seleção. A variabilidade genética dos caracteres avaliados indica que o melhoramento genético pode contribuir significativamente para a melhoria da qualidade fisiológica das sementes de soja. Os testes de envelhecimento acelerado, primeira contagem, germinação e massa de matéria seca de plântulas podem ser utilizados para a seleção de linhagens de soja com sementes de maior vigor e emergência de plântulas em campo. O ganho genético estimado para a germinação e emergência de plântulas em campo é de 20% por ciclo de seleção

Agronomic performance of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes under Azospirillum brasilense application and mineral fertilization: Agronomic performance of maize genotypes

Maize has a high nitrogen demand; as a result, more sustainable alternatives are needed to reduce demand for mineral fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the agronomic performance of maize genotypes submitted to topdressing nitrogen fertilization and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. An experiment was conducted in the second season of 2017, in Jaboticabal-SP (Brazil), using 48 maize genotypes in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of: 1) application of 140 kg ha-1 nitrogen, using urea as mineral fertilizer; 2) A. brasilense inoculation via soil, at a rate of 600 mL ha-1, as biological fertilization. Grain yield and agronomic traits were evaluated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (F-Test), means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability, and multivariate statistical analysis was performed by principal component analysis. A. brasilense inoculation via soil has a significant effect on female flowering, on the interaction between genotype versus N supply for Fusarium spp., and increases the maize grain yield; however, the responses of agronomic attributes vary with genotype. Highlights The inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense via soil increases maize grain yield, becoming viable and more sustainable alternative in the supply of nitrogen. The choice of the genotypes is an essential fator for the sucessful use of Azospirillum brasilense application or mineral fertilization, because the responses of agronomic attributes vary with the genotype. The most contrasting genotypes can be recombined in new stages of crossbreeding and selection, aiming at obtaining genotypes with greater yield potential in the use of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. Further studies are needed to better understand this technology under conditions with different genotypes, soils and production systems.Maize has a high nitrogen demand; as a result, more sustainable alternatives are needed to reduce demand for mineral fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the agronomic performance of maize genotypes submitted to topdressing nitrogen fertilization and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. An experiment was conducted in the second season of 2017, in Jaboticabal-SP (Brazil), using 48 maize genotypes in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of: 1) application of 140 kg ha-1 nitrogen, using urea as mineral fertilizer; 2) A. brasilense inoculation via soil, at a rate of 600 mL ha-1, as biological fertilization. Grain yield and agronomic traits were evaluated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (F-Test), means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability, and multivariate statistical analysis was performed by principal component analysis. A. brasilense inoculation via soil has a significant effect on female flowering, on the interaction between genotype versus N supply for Fusarium spp., and increases the maize grain yield; however, the responses of agronomic attributes vary with genotype. Highlights The inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense via soil increases maize grain yield, becoming viable and more sustainable alternative in the supply of nitrogen. The choice of the genotypes is an essential fator for the sucessful use of Azospirillum brasilense application or mineral fertilization, because the responses of agronomic attributes vary with the genotype. The most contrasting genotypes can be recombined in new stages of crossbreeding and selection, aiming at obtaining genotypes with greater yield potential in the use of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. Further studies are needed to better understand this technology under conditions with different genotypes, soils and production systems

Genetic analysis of kernel oil content in tropical maize with design III and QTL mapping

Oil content and grain yield in maize are negatively correlated, and so far the development of high-oil high-yielding hybrids has not been accomplished. Then a fully understand of the inheritance of the kernel oil content is necessary to implement a breeding program to improve both traits simultaneously. Conventional and molecular marker analyses of the design III were carried out from a reference population developed from two tropical inbred lines divergent for kernel oil content. The results showed that additive variance was quite larger than the dominance variance, and the heritability coefficient was very high. Sixteen QTL were mapped, they were not evenly distributed along the chromosomes, and accounted for 30.91% of the genetic variance. The average level of dominance computed from both conventional and QTL analysis was partial dominance. The overall results indicated that the additive effects were more important than the dominance effects, the latter were not unidirectional and then heterosis could not be exploited in crosses. Most of the favorable alleles of the QTL were in the high-oil parental inbred, which could be transferred to other inbreds via marker-assisted backcross selection. Our results coupled with reported information indicated that the development of high-oil hybrids with acceptable yields could be accomplished by using marker-assisted selection involving oil content, grain yield and its components. Finally, to exploit the xenia effect to increase even more the oil content, these hybrids should be used in the Top Cross((TM)) procedure.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnologicoConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico [CNPq-308499/2006-9]Department of Genetics at the Agriculture College Luiz de Queiroz/University of Sao PauloDepartment of Genetics at the Agriculture College "Luiz de Queiroz"/University of Sao Paul

Seed quality, chlorophyll content index and leaf nitrogen levels in maize inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to evaluate differences between maize genotypes in relation to the germination response of the seeds and the growth of seedlings inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, as well as the effect of inoculation on nitrogen levels and the chlorophyll content index of the leaves. The physiological seeds quality from the single-cross hybrids AG7098 and 2B707, and from the experimental synthetic varieties V2 and V4, inoculated with A. brasilense, was tested for germination, percentage and rate of emergence, and dry matter weight of the shoots and roots. Nitrogen levels and chlorophyll content index were evaluated in leaves of the same four genotypes grown in a greenhouse under different nitrogen supply systems and methods of inoculation with A. brasilense. The genotypes differ with regard to inoculation with A. brasilense. The hybrids were responsive to inoculation with A. brasilense for root dry matter weight. The V2 variety had a lower performance as regards root dry matter weight, with the opposite being seen for the dry matter weight of the shoots. V4 displayed no significant differences when inoculated. The results of the chlorophyll content index were not significant. Each genotype under evaluation displayed a different response for leaf nitrogen levels. It is possible to infer that the hybrids responded better to inoculation with the bacteria, with the greater root development leading to a better utilisation of water and nutrients