Assessment of 10 years of maize pedigree breeding for European corn borer tolerance and high-yielding combining ability

Abstract

A multitrait pedigree breeding system including evaluation for European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) tolerance and other agronomic traits (yield, earliness, stalk lodging) was used for 16 years to create inbred lines from very different temperate germplasms. The ultimate evaluation of the 63 inbred lines was made in comparison with stable known references. The results allowed us to classify this material into three tolerance classes to the insect and demonstrated the efficacy of the method. High-yielding combining ability might be associated with earliness, lodging tolerance and good insect tolerance. The value of some early flint European materials and of Argentinian sources was discussed to improve European corn borer tolerance.