Original Article

Heredity (1993) 71, 436–441; doi:10.1038/hdy.1993.158

Genetics of osmotic adjustment in breeding maize for drought tolerance1

Robert G Guei2 and C E Wassom3

  1. 2WARDA 01 BP 2551, Bouake 01, Cote D'Ivoire, West Africa
  2. 3Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501, USA

Correspondence: Dr Robert Guei, WARDA 01 BP 2551, Bouake 01, Cote D'Ivoire, West Africa

1Contribution no. 93-98-J from the Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn., Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A. Part of a dissertation submitted by Robert G. Guei in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the PhD degree.

Received 15 April 1993.

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Abstract

Osmotic adjustment in higher plants refers to the maintenance of turgor by lowering of osmotic potential arising from the net accumulation of solutes in response to water deficits. Genetic variation for osmotic adjustment has been reported in several crops, but little is known about its inheritance and potential use as selection criteria in tropical maize (Zea mays L.). Two tropical lowland maize populations were used in this study to quantify the magnitude of genetic variability in osmotic adjustment; to estimate components of its genetic variance and heritability; and to determine the importance of this trait in breeding tropical maize for improved drought tolerance. Full-sibs within half-sib groups were developed using the Design I mating scheme and evaluated at two locations in Mexico for two seasons using water stress and non-stress environments. Results showed that in both populations, dominance genetic effects were more important than additive effects in controlling the expression of the trait. However, very little genetic variability was present in either population for the trait, although more genetic variation was detected with data collected at flowering stage, when water stress was more severe than at the vegetative stage. Non-significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found between osmotic adjustment and yield. Not much genetic gain could be expected from selection for osmotic adjustment in these populations.

Keywords:

additive effects, dominant effects, drought tolerance, genetic variability, heritability, osmotic adjustment

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References

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