Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #98932
Title: UTILIZING THE "FAST TRACK BREEDING TECHNIQUE" TO ALTER THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CORN BELT CORN OILS

Author
item Duvick, Susan
item Pollak, Linda
item SHEN, NUO
item WHITE, PAMELA - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Demand for corn with specific traits suited to the needs of endusers is strongly influencing corn breeding programs. Breeders have to consider not only yield but also specialty traits when making selections. The Corn Belt inbreds used in yield breeding do not have sufficient genetic variation for value-added traits breeding. It is estimated that less than 2% of available egenetic resources were used to create modern Corn Belt hybrids. Exotic cor germplasm, not used to develop the original Corn Belt inbreds, can replenish the narrow-based Corn Belt gene pool for value-added trait variability. To rapidly incorporate new genes from exotic sources into Corn Belt breeding material, the Germplasm Enhancement project initiated the Fast Track breeding program. This program differs from the full breeding protocol in that it initially allows more starting material to be evaluated by developing fewer breeding progeny, meanwhile using less breeding resources per cross. The fast track breeding method has quickly and effectively enhanced value-added traits in Corn Belt corn lines as demonstrated by the altered oil quality traits of introgressed Corn Belt corn lines. The ranges of values for the new introgressed lines include 7.5-16.9% palmitic acid, 1.1-4.4% stearic acid, 17.8-60.6% oleic acid, 24.6-66.5% linoleic acid, and 0.3-1.6% linoleic acid. Where as unenhanced Corn Belt corn check lines have composition ranges: 9.4-10.9% palmitic acid, 1.4-2.0% stearic acid, 23.4-27.9% oleic acid, 58.2-63.7% linoleic acid, and 0.7-1.2% linolenic acid.