Generation means analysis of phytic acid and inorganic phosphorus contents in corn (Zea mays L)

This study reported the effects of gene action in controlling the traits with respect to the contents of phytic acid (PA) and inorganic phosphorus (InP) in corn seeds by using an analysis of six generation means (P-1, P-2, F-1, F-2, BC1, and BC2) in six crosses of elite inbred lines. The crosses of Ki16 x Ki10, Ki52 x Ki51, and 30A10-S-10-14-1-2 x Ki23 for the PA content and 30A10-S-10-11-1-10 x Ki20 for the InP content were adequately described by the additive-dominance model which it showed the importance of the additive and dominance gene effects on both the PA and InP traits. The non-allelic gene action (epistasis) study in the PA trait in the three crosses of 30A10-S-10-11-1-10 x Ki20, Ki51 x Ki20, and C5219041-S-6-95 x Ki23 revealed that there was a statistically significant difference only in the cross 30A10-S-10-11-1-10 x Ki20 which had an additive x additive gene action. For the study on the non-allelic gene action of the InP trait in the five crosses of Ki16 x Ki10, Ki51 x Ki20, Ki52 x Ki51, 30A10-S-10-14-1-2 x Ki23, and 05219041-S-6-95 x Ki23, although the different gene actions were observed, the gene effects of dominance and dominance x dominance were significantly inherited for the InP content in many crosses. From the yield study in the six generations in the six crosses, both heterosis and the additive gene effect were prominent action in the yield performance. Moreover, correlation between yield and the PA content in the crosses was positive.