IMPROVEMENT OF GRAIN YIELD AND FUSARIUM STALK ROT RESISTANCE IN THE M3S MAIZE POPULATION BY RECURRENT SELECTION

Three cycles of selfed progeny recurrent selection to improve grain yield and standability have been conducted in the M3S maize population. Besides selfed progeny selection the third cycle of selection also included recurrent selection based on evaluation of full sib (FS) progenies. Resulting cycle populations (C0, C1, C2, C3-S1 and C3-FS) were evaluated for their per se performances during three years in natural conditions (N) and under artificial stalk infection withFusariumgraminearum (F). In N grain yield increased 10% in the C2 compared to the C0. After the third cycle of selection there were no further improvement in grain yield (FS selection) or grain yield significantly decreased (S1 selection). No significant differences for grain yield were observed among cycles of selection in F. A significant decrease of stalk rot incidence from C0 to C3 was observed for both N and F with a higher response for C3-FS than for C3-S1.