Breeding strategies for tropical maize targeting in vivo haploid inducers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the selection of plants bred by different pedigree methods using selection among, among and within and only within families. The haploid induction rate of 14 S0:1 and seven S2:3 families, all crossed with the single-cross hybrid GNZ9501, was evaluated. An experimental area of ​​the Department of Biology of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), in Lavras, Minas Gerais, in the growing seasons 2012/2013 and 2014/2015, was used for the experiments. In each growing season, one experiment per was carried out, arranged in a complete randomized design, with one and two replications, respectively. Haploid induction was most effective in the families 2 and 6 in both growing seasons. Selection among and within families resulted in higher genetic gains for haploid induction. The results indicated a high genetic variability for haploid induction rate in plants within families.