Reid, L. M., Xiang, K., Zhu, X., Baum, B. R. and Molnar, S. J. 2011. Genetic diversity analysis of 119 Canadian maize inbred lines based on pedigree and simple sequence repeat markers. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 651–661. Since the early 1920s Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has been developing maize varieties and inbred lines adapted to the early maize growing regions. These inbreds represent a large group of genetically diverse genotypes; however, many of the inbreds are of unknown heterotic backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to classify 119 elite maize inbred lines released from AAFC into heterotic groups using both pedigree data and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and also to explore the consistency among different classification analyses. Pedigree analysis placed the inbred lines into eight groups, six of which corresponded to known major heterotic groups representing Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS), European flint, Lancaster, Minnesota 13, Early Butler, and Iodent; the two remaining groups consisted of germplasm derived mostly from Pioneer 3990 or Pioneer 3994 sources. Simple sequence repeat analysis of 105 loci resulted in a clustering of the inbreds into 10 groups. In comparison with the grouping based on pedigree, the SSR clustering groups had some discrepancies and groups of genetically similar germplasm, based on pedigree, could not always be confirmed with molecular markers. The results of this study will allow researchers and maize breeders to make more informed decisions on the use of these inbreds in breeding programs.

Reid, L. M., Voloaca, C., Woldemariam, T., Wu, J. and Zhu, X. 2013. CO449 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 331–335. CO449 is a short-season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability and superior resistance to gibberella ear rot as well as intermediate resistance to several other ear, stalk and leaf diseases. Excellent yields and performance data were achieved with stiff stalk inbreds such as MBS1236 and MBS1130.

Reid, L. M., Zhu, X., Voloaca, C., Wu, J. and Woldemariam, T. 2014. CO451 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 169–173. CO451 is a short-season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability as well as moderate resistance to common smut and fusaruim stalk rot. Excellent hybrid yields and performance data were achieved when CO451 was combined with stiff stalk inbreds such as MBS1130 and MBS9250 as well as with the Iodent inbred MBS8148.

Reid, L. M., Voloaca, C., Wu, J., Woldemariam, T., Jindal, K. and Zhu, X. 2015. CO453 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 183–188. CO453 is a short season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability as well as intermediate resistance to common smut, common rust and eyespot. Excellent hybrid yields and performance data were achieved when CO453 was combined with the Iodent inbred MBS8148 and the stiff stalk inbred MBS1130.

Reid, L. M., Voloaca, C., Wu, J., Woldemariam, T., Jindal, K. and Zhu, X. 2014. CO454 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1529–1533. CO454 is a short-season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability as well as moderate resistance to common smut and rust. Excellent hybrid yields and performance data were achieved when CO454 was combined with stiff stalk inbreds such as TR3030 and MBS1130 as well as with the Iodent inbred MBS8148.