Recurrent Selection for Rind Thickness in Maize and its Relationship With Yield, Lodging, and Other Plant Characteristics1

Abstract
This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of recurrent selection in increasing the stalk rind thickness in a synthetic population of maize (Zea mays L.) and determine the associated response of lodging and several other characters to selection for rind thickness. Three cycles with a selection intensity of 10% and effective populations of 883, 891, and 1054 were completed on an individual plant basis. The rind thickness of all cycles were not compared in a single year.Lodging decreased from 24.2 to 20.7% after two cycles of selection in topcrosses of the selected populations with five single‐crosses and from 25.7 to 19.1% after three cycles of selection in the populations per se. Grain yield decreased with selection for rind thickness from 64.3 to 50.9 quintals/ha in the populations per se and from 67.9 to 64.7 quintals/ha in the topcrosses. No substantial changes occurred in grain moisture at harvest, percent stand, ear height, nor plant height.

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