Xênia na produtividade e na estrutura do endosperma de sementes de milho

Abstract

Xenia effect is the result of crossing by allopollen which is manifested in the mother plant generation. This work aimed at verifying the Xenia effect in maize seed productivity and in the endosperm structure of maize seeds. Four single hybrids and three inbred lines with good agronomic characteristics were used. The experiment was conducted in two sowing dates (11/25/2011 and 12/15/2011). In the first trial, seeds were produced from the crossing between simple hybrids: DKB390pro X DKB177; DKB390pro X DKB175; DKB390pro X DKB175pro. The second trial was installed at 100 m from the first with the crossings between lines L30 X L91, L30 X L63. Seeds of the hybrids DKB177, DKB 175, DKB175 pro, DKB390pro and the inbred lines L63, L91 and L30 were produced in an isolated field at 100 m from any other pollinator, constituting the control treatments. Weight of 100 seeds, seed depth, productivity and endosperm structure of maize seeds were evaluated. The Xenia expression was observed in the DKB175pro maize seeds when pollinated by DKB390pro, increasing in 23.58% the weight of 100 seeds. For the DKB390pro X DKB175 crossing, with the DKB390pro as pollinator, the largest increments in the weight of 100 seeds value and in the final yield were observed on both sowing periods. The xenia effect on the endosperm structure of maize seeds varies with the pollinator used in the crossings.