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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73591
Title: PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE HYBRIDS DEVELOPED FROM INBRED LINES SELECTED FOR HIGH OR LOW FORAGE QUALITY

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

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Information is needed on forage quality relationships between maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds and their derived hybrids to increase the efficiency of developing maize hybrids for forage. The objective was to determine transfer of forage quality traits to maize hybrids from inbred lines selected for high and low forage quality. A replicated field study was conducted during 1994 and 1995 at Iowa State University Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering Research Center located near Ames, IA. 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 larger ranges in variation than stover. NDF concentration explained less than 40% of the variation in stover IVDMD of both inbreds and hybrids. However, 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. 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 maize lines for improved forage quality. Consistently negative relationships between fiber concentration and digestibility suggest that reduction of NDF may be an effective means for initially improving digestibility of forage maize.