1. BSSS53 as a donor source for increased whole-kernel methionine in maize: selection and evaluation of high-methionine inbreds and hybrids
- Author
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Olsen, Michael S., Krone, Todd L., and Phillips, Ronald L.
- Subjects
Corn -- Research ,Agricultural industry ,Business ,Research - Abstract
Increasing the whole-kernel methionine [MET; 2-amino-4-(methylthio)-butyric acid] level of maize (Zea mays L.) would improve the quality of the grain for poultry feed. Our objective was to increase the MET levels of A632, B73, Mo17, A632JMo17, B73/A632, and B73/Mo17, with the high-MET inbred BSSS53 as a donor parent. Backcross-derived lines were evaluated per se in trials during 3 yr, and hybrids among subsets of these lines were evaluated in three replicates during 1998. Methionine levels of the best A632 recoveries were increased by 17% after three backcrosses and 11% after four backcrosses. Methionine levels of the best B73 recoveries were increased by 20% after three backcrosses and 17% after four backcrosses. In the Mo17 genetic background, MET levels of the best recoveries were increased by 55% after three backcrosses and 31% after four backcrosses. Crosses among the highest MET backcross-derived lines produced hybrids with significant 23 to 43% increases in whole-kernel MET compared with corresponding control hybrids. Significant increases in the MET levels of experimental hybrids indicate that BSSS53 is a useful donor source of whole-kernel MET and that selection within normal dent maize germplasm can be effectively utilized to produce high-MET hybrids., MAIZE IS THE primary energy-supplying grain for animal feed in the USA. The nutritional quality of maize protein is poor because of deficiencies of the essential amino acids lysine, tryptophan, [...]
- Published
- 2003