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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #398133
Research Project: Genetic Optimization of Maize for Different Production Environments

Location: Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research

Title: Development of maize inbred lines with elevated grain methionine concentration from a high methionine population

Author
item HINTCH, TAYLOR - Iowa State University
item Moran Lauter, Adrienne
item KINNEY, SHELLY - Iowa State University
item LUBBERSTEDT, THOMAS - Iowa State University
item FREI, URSULA - Iowa State University
item DUANGPAPENG, PRAKASIT - Khon Kaen University
item Edwards, Jode
item Scott, Marvin

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2023
Publication Date: 4/17/2023
Citation: Hintch, T., Moran Lauter, A., Kinney, S., Lubberstedt, T., Frei, U., Duangpapeng, P., Edwards, J.W., Scott, M.P. 2023. Development of maize inbred lines with elevated grain methionine concentration from a high methionine population. Crop Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20983.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20983

Interpretive Summary: Methionine is a limiting nutrient in corn-based poultry diets. Supplements are available, but they increase the cost of the diets and synthetic chemical supplements are limited by the U.S. regulations for organic production systems. This has created a demand for organic-friendly high methionine corn varieties. Using traditional breeding methods, we developed a series of inbred lines with high levels of grain methionine and other traits desired by organic corn growers. Breeders will be able to use these lines to develop hybrids with grain properties desired by poultry producers, satisfying the need for an organic-friendly source of poultry feed.

Technical Abstract: Methionine is a nutritionally limiting amino acid in poultry diets based on maize. Synthetic dietary supplements are available, but are costly and not preferred by organic poultry producers. Development of high methionine maize varieties is a good solution to this problem. Several approaches have been reported for achieving this goal. Here we report an additional approach that results in inbred lines with higher concentration of methionine than other methods and is allowed in organic production systems. Inbred lines were developed using doubled haploid technology from a randomly-mated broad-based synthetic population that has undergone mass selection for grain methionine concentration. Out of 18 randomly selected inbred lines, one was significantly higher in methionine concentration than the high methionine check and ten were not significantly different from it. The inbred lines developed in this way exhibited useful genetic diversity for several agronomic and kernel quality traits. This approach is an important complement to existing breeding methods for development of varieties suited to production of poultry feed, particularly in organic production systems.