Combining ability analysis for SP4 lines of maize from space flight

Abstract

Three maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines 08-641, RP125, and 18-599 were carried into cosmic space by recoverable satellite "Shijian 8". Some mutant lines were selected from SP4 and combinations were made according to the NC II genetic design. The materials were planted in Sichuan and Yunnan separately to analyze combining ability based on the incomplete diallel cross design. The results showed that space flight affected the combining ability of mutant lines, and the GCA value of mutant lines were different in two kinds of environmental condition. The GCA of ear length, row per ear, kernel per row, and yield per plant for the mutant line C03 showed substantial increase compared with the control 08-641; the GCA of row per ear, kernel per row, and other yield component traits for the mutant lines C01 and C04 were significantly higher than those of the control. The SCA of yield and yield components for the combinations derived from the mutant lines C06, R18, and S22 were higher than others. These results laid a material foundation for maize breeding and provided some important references for improving and utilizing the mutant lines.

Development of a multiple-hybrid population for genome-wide association studies: theoretical consideration and genetic mapping of flowering traits in maize

“…For example, 30 crosses developed in maize with six parents according to Griffing III method to identify hybrids expressing a high level of heterosis39. The overall increase of GCA and SCA was found in NC II design between some common testers and 25 mutant lines from SP 4 derived from three inbreds carried into satellite, providing useful information for maize breeding through mutation40. A Combined Relative Level (CRL) model using 112 metabolite levels in young roots from four parental inbred lines and their diallel hybrids in maize indicates that parental metabolite profiles can be used together with selected hybrids as a training set to predict biomass of all possible hybrids41.…”

Genome assembly of the Chinese maize elite inbred line RP125 and its EMS mutant collection provide new resources for maize genetics research and crop improvement

“…A detailed pedigree list appears in Figure S1. Using the above methods, we successfully bred a comprehensive set of agronomic traits, including high resistance, wide adaptability, and phosphorus efficient use, into one inbred line, which was named RP125 (the name of the new national plant variety is SCML203, 2010) (Zhang et al., 2013a, 2013b).…”

“…RP125, a popular elite inbred line bred from Chuandan9 seeds after space mutagenesis in 1996, has been widely used in the breeding pipeline in China (Zhang et al., 2013a, 2013b). It is broadly adapted to different light cycles and has synchronized female and male flower development at multiple latitudes.…”