The multivariate analyses are useful tools to estimate the genetic variability between accessions. In the breeding programs, the Ward-Modified Location Model (MLM) multivariate method has been a ...powerful strategy to quantify variability using quantitative and qualitative variables simultaneously. The present study was proposed in view of the dearth of information about popcorn breeding programs under a multivariate approach using the Ward-MLM methodology. The objective of this study was thus to estimate the genetic diversity among 37 genotypes of popcorn aiming to identify divergent groups associated with morpho-agronomic traits and traits related to resistance to Fusarium spp. To this end, 7 qualitative and 17 quantitative variables were analyzed. The experiment was conducted in 2014, at Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, located in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. The Ward-MLM strategy allowed the identification of four groups as follows: Group I with 10 genotypes, Group II with 11 genotypes, Group III with 9 genotypes, and Group IV with 7 genotypes. Group IV was distant in relation to the other groups, while groups I, II, and III were near. The crosses between genotypes from the other groups with those of group IV allow an exploitation of heterosis. The Ward-MLM strategy provided an appropriate grouping of genotypes; ear weight, ear diameter, and grain yield were the traits that most contributed to the analysis of genetic diversity.
The selection of southern rust-resistant genotypes caused by Puccinia polysora (Pucciniaceae) is considered an efficient way to control this disease, which causes high crop losses in popcorn. To help ...choose adequate cultivars, we examined the combining ability of lines and the agronomic performance of popcorn hybrids for rust resistance. Eight S7 popcorn lines were used, which were crossed in a complete diallel mating scheme, resulting in 56 hybrids. The disease incidence on the whole plant (INC), severity on a leaf of the main ear (SEV), grain yield (GY), popping expansion (PE) and volume of expanded popcorn per hectare (PV) were evaluated. Analysis of variance was performed and the means were grouped by the Scott-Knott algorithm. The analysis diallel was performed by the method of Griffing, using the Diallel I method. The hybrids L76xP8, P8xL70, L77xP8, P8xP1 and L55xL76 stood out with a GY of >3000 kg.ha-1 and PE of >30 mL.g-1. For the traits GY and VP, the non-additive effects were predominant, and the heterosis effects high. For the trait expression of INC, SEV and PE, the additive effects were more relevant. The estimates of general combining ability of lines L70, L61, P1 and L76 were negative for INC and SEV. For commercial cultivation, L77xL76, L76xP1, L77xL70, L76xL70, L70xL76 and L77xP1 are recommended, in view of their excellent agronomic performance and superior resistance to rust.
In view of the narrow genetic base of popcorn, probably due to its evolution by selection from flint maize types alone, knowledge about genetic divergence is imperative for the formation of heterotic ...groups. Thus, our objective was to identify heterotic groups of popcorn lines; we did so by exploiting the representative genotype collection of the Active Popcorn Germplasm Bank of the State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro. Thirty-eight popcorn genotypes from different origins were analyzed by two methodologies to identify divergent groups. In the first method, the genotypic data were processed to determine the number of groups, based on Bayesian clustering algorithms, and two clustering methods (UPGMA and Ward), based on three genetic distance algorithms, weighted index, unweighted index, and an index of genetic distance or dissimilarity, proposed by Smouse and Peakall. The second methodology identified groups based on simultaneous use of morphoagronomic and molecular information and extracting the genetic distance matrix by the Gower algorithm, and later applying UPGMA and Ward clustering methods. The consistency of the clustering methods was evaluated by cophenetic correlation coefficients. The significance of these coefficients was examined by the Mantel test. There was significant genetic variability among corn popcorn accesses at morphological and molecular levels. There also was agreement between multivariate clustering techniques, mainly when using genotypic data provided by microsatellite markers. heterotic groups were identified; these were formed mainly according to the origin of each genotype and/or geographic origin. We found that there is sufficient heterosis to develop new cultivars.
The expansion of agriculture, coupled with the need for sustainable cropping, is one of the greatest challenges of the scientific community working on the generation of new cultivars adapted to ...abiotic stress conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of popcorn lines as to responsiveness and efficiency in phosphorus use, as a first step towards the implementation of a breeding program interested in the practice of sustainable agriculture. Twenty-five popcorn lines were evaluated in two locations with different phosphorus levels in the soil, using a randomized block design. The following traits were measured: plant height, ear height, female flowering date, male flowering date, malefemale flowering interval, ear diameter, ear length, 100-grain weight, grain yield, popping expansion, and expanded popcorn volume per hectare. A combined analysis of variance and test of means were performed, and the lines were classified as to their phosphorus use efficiency, according to their production performance in the different environments. The genetic diversity between the lines was estimated by Tocher’s and UPGMA clustering methods, using generalized Mahalanobis distance. Lines L59, P7, P2, P3, P4, P8, P10, P9, L66, L70, L69, and P5 were efficient and responsive, whereas lines L75, L80, L61, L77, L63, L65, P1, L54, L53, L88, and L71 were inefficient and nonresponsive. Genetic variability was greater in the environments with low phosphorus in the soil, suggesting that the selection pressure exerted in the stressing environment is a decisive factor to obtain a higher expression of variability.
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