Evaluation of Maize Varieties for Grain Yield under Water-restricted Conditions
Rafael Nunes de Almeida *
State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro, Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia – Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602, Brasil.
Fernanda Vargas Valadares
State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro, Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia – Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602, Brasil.
Larícia Olária Emerick Silva
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, S/N Guararema, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29500-000, Brasil.
José Dias de Souza Neto
Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, Rodovia Br 482, Km 47 s/n, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29520-000, Brasil.
Diego Rogério Ferraz
Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, Rodovia Br 482, Km 47 s/n, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29520-000, Brasil.
Julio Cesar Fiorio Vettorazzi
State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro, Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia – Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602, Brasil.
Ana Paula Cândido Gabriel Berilli
Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, Rodovia Br 482, Km 47 s/n, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29520-000, Brasil.
Monique Moreira Moulin
Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, Rodovia Br 482, Km 47 s/n, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29520-000, Brasil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study sought to evaluate maize germplasm accessions from the Ifes Germplasm Bank (Ifes BAG) to identify promising lines for breeding programs to increase yield under water-restricted conditions. A competition trial was carried in two contrasting environments in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: municipality of Alegre and municipality of Colatina. Twenty-one maize accessions were collected and evaluated for agronomic performance in two locations (The municipalities of Alegre and Colatina) in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Trials were conducted under water-restricted conditions from vegetative to reproductive stage in a randomized block design with five replicates. Data were subjected to analysis of variance by the F Test and to multivariate clustering analysis according to the estimate of genetic distance proposed by Mahalanobis. Genotype by environment interaction identified promising genotypes for each specific environment. Maize germplasm accessions from the Ifes BAG showed genetic variability. Among the germplasm accessions from the Ifes BAG, the populations Padrinho, Piranão 14, Aliança and Palha Roxa are promising for breeding programs with the goal of increasing grain yield under water-restricted conditions in tropical climate regions.
Keywords: Zea mays, abiotic stress, genetic resources, plant breeding, population improvement.