Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize

Autores
Lutz, Silvia A.; Hisse, Ignacio R.; Maddonni, Gustavo Angel; López, César G.; Galizia, Luciana Ayelen; Eyhérabide, Guillermo H.; Messina, Carlos D.; D’Andrea, Karina E.
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Context. Prolificacy and tillering have not been traditional targets of maize breeding programs. As agriculture expands into marginal environments, these traits may become increasingly relevant under low plant densities. Nevertheless, knowledge of their genetic basis remains limited, restricting their incorporation into breeding strategies. Aims. This study aimed to (i) estimate genetic variance components, broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities, general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA), and mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for nine vegetative–reproductive plasticity traits; and (ii) identify secondary traits with high heritability and strong genetic correlations with grain yield for indirect selection. Methods. A half-diallel field experiment involving six maize inbreds and 15 single-cross hybrids was conducted over two growing seasons under late sowing and low plant density (3 plants m−2), with non-limiting water and nutrient supply. Key results. Ear number from tillers, tillers per plant and tiller prolificacy showed high H2 (>0.84) and h2 (>0.74), predominance of GCA (>68%) and positive MPH (13–54%). These traits were positively genetically correlated with ear number per plant and kernel number from tiller ears. Main shoot prolificacy exhibited high H2 (0.87) but low h2 (0.44), reflecting greater SCA contribution (64%), and low genetic correlation with tillers per plant. Conclusions. Tillering and prolificacy-related traits are promising indirect selection criteria. Improving reproductive plasticity requires combining selection for additive effects on tillering with specific parental combinations that enhance prolificacy. Implications. Incorporating tillering and prolificacy traits into breeding programs may contribute to developing maize genotypes better adapted to marginal environments and low plant densities.
EEA Pergamino
Fil: Lutz, Silvia A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Lutz, Silvia A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Hisse, Ignacio R. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados Unidos
Fil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; Argentina
Fil: Galizia, Luciana A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Departamento de Maíz; Argentina
Fil: Eyhérabide, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Escuela de Agrarias, Naturales y Ambientales; Argentina
Fil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados Unidos
Fil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. UF/IFAS Crop Transformation Center; Estados Unidos
Fil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal.Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura ; Argentina
Fil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fuente
Crop and Pasture Science 77 (8) : 1-14. (July 2026)
Materia
Maíz
Control Genético
Fitomejoramiento
Correlación Genética
Prolificidad
Maize
Genetic Control
Plant Breeding
Genetic Correlation
Conception Rate
Additive Genetic Effects
Diallel Mating Design
Mid-parent Heterosis
Tillers
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso restringido
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27931
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network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maizeLutz, Silvia A.Hisse, Ignacio R.Maddonni, Gustavo AngelLópez, César G.Galizia, Luciana AyelenEyhérabide, Guillermo H.Messina, Carlos D.D’Andrea, Karina E.MaízControl GenéticoFitomejoramientoCorrelación GenéticaProlificidadMaizeGenetic ControlPlant BreedingGenetic CorrelationConception RateAdditive Genetic EffectsDiallel Mating DesignMid-parent HeterosisTillersContext. Prolificacy and tillering have not been traditional targets of maize breeding programs. As agriculture expands into marginal environments, these traits may become increasingly relevant under low plant densities. Nevertheless, knowledge of their genetic basis remains limited, restricting their incorporation into breeding strategies. Aims. This study aimed to (i) estimate genetic variance components, broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities, general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA), and mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for nine vegetative–reproductive plasticity traits; and (ii) identify secondary traits with high heritability and strong genetic correlations with grain yield for indirect selection. Methods. A half-diallel field experiment involving six maize inbreds and 15 single-cross hybrids was conducted over two growing seasons under late sowing and low plant density (3 plants m−2), with non-limiting water and nutrient supply. Key results. Ear number from tillers, tillers per plant and tiller prolificacy showed high H2 (>0.84) and h2 (>0.74), predominance of GCA (>68%) and positive MPH (13–54%). These traits were positively genetically correlated with ear number per plant and kernel number from tiller ears. Main shoot prolificacy exhibited high H2 (0.87) but low h2 (0.44), reflecting greater SCA contribution (64%), and low genetic correlation with tillers per plant. Conclusions. Tillering and prolificacy-related traits are promising indirect selection criteria. Improving reproductive plasticity requires combining selection for additive effects on tillering with specific parental combinations that enhance prolificacy. Implications. Incorporating tillering and prolificacy traits into breeding programs may contribute to developing maize genotypes better adapted to marginal environments and low plant densities.EEA PergaminoFil: Lutz, Silvia A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Lutz, Silvia A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Hisse, Ignacio R. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados UnidosFil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: López, César G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López, César G. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: López, César G. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Galizia, Luciana A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Departamento de Maíz; ArgentinaFil: Eyhérabide, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Escuela de Agrarias, Naturales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados UnidosFil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. UF/IFAS Crop Transformation Center; Estados UnidosFil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal.Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura ; ArgentinaFil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; ArgentinaCSIRO Publishing2026-09-29T14:03:10Z2026-09-29T14:03:10Z2026-07info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27931https://connectsci.au/cp/article-abstract/77/8/CP26092/275009/Genetic-control-of-reproductive-plasticity-through1836-09471836-5795 (online)https://doi.org/10.1071/CP26092Crop and Pasture Science 77 (8) : 1-14. (July 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-11-05T11:51:37Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/27931instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-11-05 11:51:38.167INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
title Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
spellingShingle Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
Lutz, Silvia A.
Maíz
Control Genético
Fitomejoramiento
Correlación Genética
Prolificidad
Maize
Genetic Control
Plant Breeding
Genetic Correlation
Conception Rate
Additive Genetic Effects
Diallel Mating Design
Mid-parent Heterosis
Tillers
title_short Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
title_full Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
title_fullStr Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
title_full_unstemmed Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
title_sort Genetic control of reproductive plasticity through prolificacy and tillering in maize
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Lutz, Silvia A.
Hisse, Ignacio R.
Maddonni, Gustavo Angel
López, César G.
Galizia, Luciana Ayelen
Eyhérabide, Guillermo H.
Messina, Carlos D.
D’Andrea, Karina E.
author Lutz, Silvia A.
author_facet Lutz, Silvia A.
Hisse, Ignacio R.
Maddonni, Gustavo Angel
López, César G.
Galizia, Luciana Ayelen
Eyhérabide, Guillermo H.
Messina, Carlos D.
D’Andrea, Karina E.
author_role author
author2 Hisse, Ignacio R.
Maddonni, Gustavo Angel
López, César G.
Galizia, Luciana Ayelen
Eyhérabide, Guillermo H.
Messina, Carlos D.
D’Andrea, Karina E.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Maíz
Control Genético
Fitomejoramiento
Correlación Genética
Prolificidad
Maize
Genetic Control
Plant Breeding
Genetic Correlation
Conception Rate
Additive Genetic Effects
Diallel Mating Design
Mid-parent Heterosis
Tillers
topic Maíz
Control Genético
Fitomejoramiento
Correlación Genética
Prolificidad
Maize
Genetic Control
Plant Breeding
Genetic Correlation
Conception Rate
Additive Genetic Effects
Diallel Mating Design
Mid-parent Heterosis
Tillers
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Context. Prolificacy and tillering have not been traditional targets of maize breeding programs. As agriculture expands into marginal environments, these traits may become increasingly relevant under low plant densities. Nevertheless, knowledge of their genetic basis remains limited, restricting their incorporation into breeding strategies. Aims. This study aimed to (i) estimate genetic variance components, broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities, general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA), and mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for nine vegetative–reproductive plasticity traits; and (ii) identify secondary traits with high heritability and strong genetic correlations with grain yield for indirect selection. Methods. A half-diallel field experiment involving six maize inbreds and 15 single-cross hybrids was conducted over two growing seasons under late sowing and low plant density (3 plants m−2), with non-limiting water and nutrient supply. Key results. Ear number from tillers, tillers per plant and tiller prolificacy showed high H2 (>0.84) and h2 (>0.74), predominance of GCA (>68%) and positive MPH (13–54%). These traits were positively genetically correlated with ear number per plant and kernel number from tiller ears. Main shoot prolificacy exhibited high H2 (0.87) but low h2 (0.44), reflecting greater SCA contribution (64%), and low genetic correlation with tillers per plant. Conclusions. Tillering and prolificacy-related traits are promising indirect selection criteria. Improving reproductive plasticity requires combining selection for additive effects on tillering with specific parental combinations that enhance prolificacy. Implications. Incorporating tillering and prolificacy traits into breeding programs may contribute to developing maize genotypes better adapted to marginal environments and low plant densities.
EEA Pergamino
Fil: Lutz, Silvia A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Lutz, Silvia A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Hisse, Ignacio R. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados Unidos
Fil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: Maddoni, Gustavo A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina
Fil: López, César G. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; Argentina
Fil: Galizia, Luciana A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Departamento de Maíz; Argentina
Fil: Eyhérabide, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Escuela de Agrarias, Naturales y Ambientales; Argentina
Fil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. Horticultural Sciences Department; Estados Unidos
Fil: Messina, Carlos D. University of Florida. UF/IFAS Crop Transformation Center; Estados Unidos
Fil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal.Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura ; Argentina
Fil: D'Andrea, Karina Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología y Ecología Vinculado a la Agricultura; Argentina
description Context. Prolificacy and tillering have not been traditional targets of maize breeding programs. As agriculture expands into marginal environments, these traits may become increasingly relevant under low plant densities. Nevertheless, knowledge of their genetic basis remains limited, restricting their incorporation into breeding strategies. Aims. This study aimed to (i) estimate genetic variance components, broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities, general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA), and mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for nine vegetative–reproductive plasticity traits; and (ii) identify secondary traits with high heritability and strong genetic correlations with grain yield for indirect selection. Methods. A half-diallel field experiment involving six maize inbreds and 15 single-cross hybrids was conducted over two growing seasons under late sowing and low plant density (3 plants m−2), with non-limiting water and nutrient supply. Key results. Ear number from tillers, tillers per plant and tiller prolificacy showed high H2 (>0.84) and h2 (>0.74), predominance of GCA (>68%) and positive MPH (13–54%). These traits were positively genetically correlated with ear number per plant and kernel number from tiller ears. Main shoot prolificacy exhibited high H2 (0.87) but low h2 (0.44), reflecting greater SCA contribution (64%), and low genetic correlation with tillers per plant. Conclusions. Tillering and prolificacy-related traits are promising indirect selection criteria. Improving reproductive plasticity requires combining selection for additive effects on tillering with specific parental combinations that enhance prolificacy. Implications. Incorporating tillering and prolificacy traits into breeding programs may contribute to developing maize genotypes better adapted to marginal environments and low plant densities.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-09-29T14:03:10Z
2026-09-29T14:03:10Z
2026-07
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27931
https://connectsci.au/cp/article-abstract/77/8/CP26092/275009/Genetic-control-of-reproductive-plasticity-through
1836-0947
1836-5795 (online)
https://doi.org/10.1071/CP26092
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27931
https://connectsci.au/cp/article-abstract/77/8/CP26092/275009/Genetic-control-of-reproductive-plasticity-through
https://doi.org/10.1071/CP26092
identifier_str_mv 1836-0947
1836-5795 (online)
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv restrictedAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv CSIRO Publishing
publisher.none.fl_str_mv CSIRO Publishing
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Crop and Pasture Science 77 (8) : 1-14. (July 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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score 13.334379

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