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Expression Of Heterosis In Leaming And Midland Corn Belt Dent Populations, M. J. Carena, A. R. Hallauer

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Successful maize (Zea mays 1.) breeding programs are based on specific heterotic patterns. The Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic x Lancaster Sure Crop heterotic pattern is widely exploited in U.S. maize breeding programs. Alternative U.S. heterotic patterns have been suggested, but they have received limited attention and improvement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate cultivar crosses between Leaming and Midland Yellow Dent cultivars before and after inbred progeny selection and to assess their potential as an alternative U.S. heterotic pattern. Grain yield had a midparent heterosis value of 4.9% before selection and 17.8% in the third cycle of selection. …