La selección masal permite aumentar el rendimiento sin agotar la variabilidad genética aditiva en el maíz zacatecas 58

Abstract

To estimate the genetic parameters of the maize (Zea mays L.) variety Zacatecas 58 original (Z0) and its improved version (Z24) obtained through 24 cycles of stratified visual mass selection (SVMS), as well as to estimate the feasibility of continuing the selection process, 35 half-sib (HS) and 35 full-sib (FS) families derived from Z0 and 40 HS and 40 FS families derived from Z24 were evaluated in four environments for yield per ear per plant (YEP). SVMS increased the yield per plant after 24 cycles (3.65 % per cycle). FS families yielded more (P≤0.05) than HS families, in both populations. Joint evaluation of HS and FS families allowed to estimate genetic additive (σ2A) and dominant (σ2D) variances. Although higher σ2A of Z0 than Z24 was expected, this did not occur; however, the additive coefficient of variation (ACV) of Z0 was higher than Z24, thus indicating it is still possible to further increase yield by SVMS after 24 cycles of selection.