Seleção Massal em Variedades de Milho Crioulo no Sul do Piauí

Abstract

The objective of this work was to perform the mass selection of two varieties of landrace maize in southern Piauí, with available improved populations to can be used in breeding programs. Experiment was conducted in the experimental area of Federal University of Piauí (UFPI/CPCE). We used the method of mass selection within populations, with two cycles of selection, period 2011/2013, using two maize landrace varieties seeds: Peruvian purple maize and purple straw maize (from Espírito Santo (ES) and from São Paulo (SP)). The evaluated characteristics were: plant height, ear height, mass of spikes and production. The populations were subjected on selection intensities of 10% in two cycles of selection. The economic selection index was calculated based on the Mulamba & Mock method. The mass selection for landrace maize varieties was efficient for the high variability found for the studied characters, and the purple straw maize SP variety, due to its high productivity and be responsive on mass selection, may be used for family farmers with low technology in the region.