Variability among maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for seed longevity

Genotypes conserved in active collections may suffer genetic erosion and modifications. The objective of this work was to investigate changes in germination and vigour in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines during cold storage in an active collection. Seeds of 16 maize inbreds produced along 16 years w...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Revilla Temiño, Pedro, Velasco Pazos, Pablo, Malvar Pintos, Rosa Ana, Cartea González, María Elena, Ordás Pérez, Amando
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión enviada para evaluación y publicación
Fecha de publicación:2006
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/101593
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/101593
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Germplasm conservation
Maize
Variability
Zea mays L.
Descripción
Sumario:Genotypes conserved in active collections may suffer genetic erosion and modifications. The objective of this work was to investigate changes in germination and vigour in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines during cold storage in an active collection. Seeds of 16 maize inbreds produced along 16 years were evaluated for emergence and seedling vigour in a growth chamber. Linear and quadratic regressions of vigour and viability-related traits over seed age were calculated and tested for homogeneity. The seed of five production years of five inbreds that behaved differently in the regression analysis was multiplied in 1998, and original and renewed seed were evaluated in a growth chamber in 1999. Viability and vigour decreased linearly with age for most inbreds, particularly for B84 and EP10, varied at random for a few inbreds, and remained high for EP56 and A295. Aging caused reduction of vigour and loss of viability in most inbreds. There was variability for seed longevity among inbred lines; longevity was highest for inbred EP56. During storage, some seeds of each inbred died, while enduring seeds, when multiplied, produced new seed with enhanced viability and vigour compared to the average seed of the inbred, suggesting natural selection for viability and vigour during storage within inbred lines.