Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain

The launch of a successful quality-oriented breeding program requires both mining the residual diversity in grain quality parameters contained in the elite, high-yielding breeding material with good agronomic performance and introgression of new germplasm, such as local landraces, with a high level...

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Main Authors: Aleksandar Popović, Vojka Babić, Zoran Čamdžija, Srboljub Živanov, Dragana Branković-Radojčić, Jelena Golijan Pantović, Vesna Perić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1012
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author Aleksandar Popović
Vojka Babić
Zoran Čamdžija
Srboljub Živanov
Dragana Branković-Radojčić
Jelena Golijan Pantović
Vesna Perić
author_facet Aleksandar Popović
Vojka Babić
Zoran Čamdžija
Srboljub Živanov
Dragana Branković-Radojčić
Jelena Golijan Pantović
Vesna Perić
author_sort Aleksandar Popović
collection DOAJ
description The launch of a successful quality-oriented breeding program requires both mining the residual diversity in grain quality parameters contained in the elite, high-yielding breeding material with good agronomic performance and introgression of new germplasm, such as local landraces, with a high level of targeted quality parameters per se. This study analyzed the combining abilities of 31 maize landraces and two divergent inbred lines–testers (ZPL217 and ZPL-255/75-5) regarding the yield and protein, starch, and lipid content, assessed by Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy as a fast, non-destructive, and cost-effective method. The general combining ability (GCA) defines the average behavior of genotype in hybrid combination, resulting from additive gene action, so positive GCA values of landraces AN13 and AN197 for protein, AN632 for lipids, and AN594 for starch content indicate that they can be valuable sources of the mentioned properties in quality-oriented maize breeding programs. The obtained correlation between starch content and protein and yield (−0.948 **; 0.587 **) pointed out that an increase in the protein content during breeding will be accompanied by a decrease in the starch content and yield. The specific combining ability (SCA) of the testers used, suggests their possible application in establishing and improving quality breeding programs’ initial material.
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spelling doaj-art-62ef7d23a33c4249bd3b846e7223a1e32025-08-20T03:47:49ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-01155101210.3390/agronomy15051012Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of GrainAleksandar Popović0Vojka Babić1Zoran Čamdžija2Srboljub Živanov3Dragana Branković-Radojčić4Jelena Golijan Pantović5Vesna Perić6Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaMaize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaMaize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaMaize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaMaize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaMaize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, SerbiaThe launch of a successful quality-oriented breeding program requires both mining the residual diversity in grain quality parameters contained in the elite, high-yielding breeding material with good agronomic performance and introgression of new germplasm, such as local landraces, with a high level of targeted quality parameters per se. This study analyzed the combining abilities of 31 maize landraces and two divergent inbred lines–testers (ZPL217 and ZPL-255/75-5) regarding the yield and protein, starch, and lipid content, assessed by Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy as a fast, non-destructive, and cost-effective method. The general combining ability (GCA) defines the average behavior of genotype in hybrid combination, resulting from additive gene action, so positive GCA values of landraces AN13 and AN197 for protein, AN632 for lipids, and AN594 for starch content indicate that they can be valuable sources of the mentioned properties in quality-oriented maize breeding programs. The obtained correlation between starch content and protein and yield (−0.948 **; 0.587 **) pointed out that an increase in the protein content during breeding will be accompanied by a decrease in the starch content and yield. The specific combining ability (SCA) of the testers used, suggests their possible application in establishing and improving quality breeding programs’ initial material.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1012<i>Zea mays</i> L.yieldproteinsstarchlipidsNIR spectroscopy
spellingShingle Aleksandar Popović
Vojka Babić
Zoran Čamdžija
Srboljub Živanov
Dragana Branković-Radojčić
Jelena Golijan Pantović
Vesna Perić
Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
Agronomy
<i>Zea mays</i> L.
yield
proteins
starch
lipids
NIR spectroscopy
title Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
title_full Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
title_fullStr Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
title_full_unstemmed Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
title_short Combining Ability of Maize Landraces for Yield and Basic Chemical Composition of Grain
title_sort combining ability of maize landraces for yield and basic chemical composition of grain
topic <i>Zea mays</i> L.
yield
proteins
starch
lipids
NIR spectroscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1012
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