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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #84699
Title: GENETIC VARIABILITY IN EXOTIC MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO MAIZE WEEVIL

Author
item LI, RUMING - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item KANG, MANJIT - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item MORENO, ORLANDO - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item POLLAK, LINDA

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In the southern USA, maize weevils cause heavy damage to stored corn. The insect is not cold-hardy, but its larvae and adults can overwinter both in the field and in storage so that widespread weevil infestations can occur. To identify sources of resistance to maize weevils, evaluation and utilization of exotic germplasm is essential because tropical germplasm has sbeen shown to be a potential source of resistance. The Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project has made available unique exotic germplasm to broaden the genetic base of U.S. hybrids. GEM breeding crosses were evaluated for weevil resistance. Results indicate that substantial resistance to maize weevil occurs in this germplasm, although the environment had a large effect on the results. Incorporation of this resistance into U.S. hybrids will benefit farmers and elevators by reducing weevil damage in their stored corn. This will lead to a better product for rdomestic and foreign users of U.S. corn.

Technical Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernel infestation by maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) is a serious problem in storage. Genetic variability in maize germplasm has been identified for obtaining sources of resistance to maize weevil. Sixty-one exotic x temperate maize breeding crosses were evaluated for remaining kernel weights (RKW) (100 grams minus loss) after maize weevil feeding in 1995 and 1996. Highly significant genotypic effects for RKW in both years indicated that a substantial genotypic variability for resistance to maize weevil existed among the maize breeding crosses. The two-year data revealed that there was a true genetic variability among the breeding crosses for maize weevil resistance [genetic variance component (o**2 g)=12.34**]. Broad-sense heritability (h**2 b) on a plot basis for RKW was 0.27 in 1995 and 0.30 in 1996, suggesting a relatively stable genetic variability for this trait across years. The h**2 b for RKW from the pooled data was 0.21, which implied that progress from selection would be slow. Genotype-by-environment interaction for RKW was not detected, however, environmental effects were large. Identification of genetic variability for maize weevil resistance within an environment would be possible.