Yield and quality of silage of maize hybrids

The objective of this research was to identify the potential of maize hybrids for the production of silage. Hybrids 1671B, 2B433, 20A78, SHS4070, BX1280 and DKB390 were tested in a randomized block design with three replications. The hybrids yields were evaluated (average plant height, height of ear insertion, number of broken and lodged plants/ha, leaf:stem and ear:plant ratio and production of of DM, CP and TDN/ha). There was no difference between hybrids for the variables studied, except for the height of ear insertion. With respect to chemical characteristics, N-NH3/NT organic acids, and pH, there was also no difference between cultivars and hybrid silages are rated as of very good quality

Correlação entre heterose e divergência genética estimadas por cruzamentos dialélicos e marcadores moleculares rapd em populações de milho-pipoca Correlation between heterosis and genetic divergence estimated of diallel crosses and rapd molecular markers in populations of popcorn

Com o objetivo de correlacionar a heterose, estimada através de cruzamentos dialélicos, com a divergência genética obtida pelo uso de marcadores moleculares RAPD, oito populações de milho-pipoca (1-PASHA, 2-PAPA, 3-PAAPC, 4-PO, 5-ZL, 6-CMS 042, 7-RS 20 e 8-CMS 43) foram intercruzadas em esquema dialélico completo, sem recíprocos, no ano agrícola de 2002/2003, gerando 28 híbridos. A avaliação dos híbridos foi realizada no ano agrícola de 2003/2004, em Londrina e Ponta Grossa, PR, em um ensaio com trinta e oito tratamentos, constituídos de vinte e oito combinações híbridas, oito parentais e duas testemunhas (IAC 112 e IAC TC01). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com três repetições. Foram avaliados seis caracteres: massa de grãos, capacidade de expansão, altura de planta, altura de espiga, prolificidade e florescimento feminino. Foi utilizada a técnica de RAPD para a obtenção das estimativas de distâncias genéticas entre as populações. Os resultados inferem em correlações positivas e significativas entre a divergência genética detectada pelos marcadores RAPD e massa de grãos, altura de plantas, altura de espiga e prolificidade, dos vinte e oito híbridos avaliados no dialelo em estudo. Para capacidade de expansão, florescimento e heterose percentual não foi detectada correlação significativa com a divergência genética.<br>The objective of this study was to correlate the heterosis evaluated by diallel complete design with the genetic divergence estimated through the use of RAPD markers. Eight popcorn populations (1-PASHA, 2-PAPA, 3-PAAPC, 4-PO, 5-ZL, 6-CMS 42, 7-RS 20 and 8-CMS 43) were intercrossed on a complete diallel scheme, without reciprocal crosses, during 2002/2003 summer season, resulting in 28 hybrids. Hybrid evaluations were accomplished in the 2003/2004 summer season, at Londrina and Ponta Grossa, PR, in a trial with thirty-eight treatments, including all hybrid combinations, eight parentals and two controls (IAC 112 and IAC TC01). Complete randomized blocks design with tree replications was used. Traits evaluated were grain yield, popping expansion, plant height, ear height, ear prolificity and female flowering. RAPD was also used to estimate genetic distances among populations. The results infer in positive and significant correlations among the genetic divergence detected by RAPD molecular markers and the traits grain yield, plants height, ear height and ear prolificity of all hybrids evaluated on present diallel. For popping expansion, flowering and percentage heterosis no significant correlations with genetic divergence were detected

Digestibility and microbial efficiency in steers fed diets based on corn silage hybrids and concentrate levels

A trial involving a 2x2 factorial design was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn silage hybrids and concentrate levels (25 and 50%) on intake and digestibility of nutrients, ruminal characteristics and microbial efficiency in steers. Four ruminal and abomasal cannulated steers (512±25kg of birth weight), were used in a 4×4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of 75% silage A + 25% concentrate; 50% silage A + 50% concentrate; 75% silage B + 25% concentrate; and 50% silage B + 50% concentrate on dry matter (DM) basis. There were no differences in the intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein, and ether extract. The intake of non fiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients were positively affected by concentrate levels. The digestibility of DM and OM were also positively affected by concentrate levels. There were no effects of treatments on ruminal pH values, ruminal ammonia-N, and microbial efficiency