APTITUDE OF IMPROVED HALF-SIB PROGENIES FOR GREEN CORN PRODUCTION

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate improved half-sib progenies with an aptitude for green maize production in terms of agronomic adaptation and ear yield potential. The experiment was installed in the 2017/2018 harvest without a randomized block design with three replications. Two commercial controls (variety CatiVerde 02 and hybrid AG 1051) were used with 98 half-sib progenies. The genotypes were formulated to optimize the agronomic characteristics of plant height, male and female cycles, and ear insertion height. At stage R3 (milky grain), ears were harvested to evaluate commercial ear length, commercial ear diameter, the total number of ears, the total number of commercial ears, the percentage of commercial ears, the average mass of commercial ears, and productivity of commercial ears. From the analysis of variance, the genetic parameters were estimated by the mathematical expectation of the mean squares of the sources of variation. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed, followed by genotype grouping by genetic dissimilarity using the UPGMA method. The resulting genetic parameters demonstrated high variability among progenies, indicating potential genetic gain with artificial selection. The PCA enabled 30 half-sib progenies to be selected, highlighting the P-32, which stood out with an average yield of 14,230 kg ha-1. The UPGMA clustering method revealed five genetically different groups and eight divided progenies. The results clearly demonstrated the existence of favorable genetic variability among the progenies of corn half-sibs, making them well suited to green corn production for fresh consumption.