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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75270
Title: FORAGE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF INBRED CORN LINES AND THEIR DERIVED HYBRIDS

Author
item Redfearn, Daren
item Buxton, Dwayne
item HALLAUER, ARNEL - ISU
item GEORGE, J - ISU

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Forage quality characteristics between corn (Zea mays L.) inbreds and their derived hybrids are needed to increase the efficiency of developing corn hybrids for forage. The objective was to determine transfer of forage quality traits to corn hybrids from inbred lines selected for high and low forage quality. Twelve elite inbreds selected for high or low forage quality were used to develop twelve single-cross hybrids. Forage quality was measured on stover and whole-plant forage of inbreds and hybrids. Variation for in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and lignin/NDF was greater in stover and whole-plant forage of inbreds than in hybrids. Whole-plant forage had greater variation than stover. NDF concentration explained less than 40% of the variation in stover IVDMD of both inbreds and hybrids. NDF concentration explained 62% of the variation for inbred whole-plant and 78% for hybrid whole-plant IVDMD. Generally, single-crosses of high forage quality inbreds resulted in high forage quality hybrids, especially for whole-plant IVDMD. Although most forage quality traits are highly heritable, rate of fiber digestion appears to be poorly heritable; therefore, determinations may need to be made on the improved hybrids. Consistently negative relationships between fiber concentration and digestibility suggest that reduction of NDF may be an effective means for initially improving digestibility of forage corn. Given the greater variation in forage quality among inbreds than hybrids, it may be more important to evaluate differences of inbreds than hybrids when selecting corn lines for improved forage quality.