Identification of teosinte populations (Zea spp.) useful for grain yielding improvement in maize (Zea mays L.)

The great phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Genus Zea can be inherited within and between populations. Teosinte (Zea spp.) is the closest wild relative to maize, distributed in Mexico and Central America from Chihuahua to Costa Rica through several environmental conditions. The potential ability of exotic germplasm to incorporate traits on maize (Zea mays L.) domesticated crops has been demonstrated. Among traits of economic interest that can be transferred from teosinte to maize, the following stand out: higher grain yield, resistance to pests and diseases, and product quality. 180 crosses between BC2F1 (maize-teosinte families) and LUG282 were evaluated to test introgressed teosinte germplasm potential on CIMMYT line CML311 background. The 180 F-1 with teosinte introgressions were evaluated at three environments and compared to a reference control LUG282xCML311 and to some other experimental and some commercial hybrids as controls also. Main variables evaluated were days to anthesis and silking, plant and ear height, root and stalk lodging and grain yield. The results of the combined ANOVA by teosinte families showed that hybrids with introgressions of a teosinte population from La Lima, Toliman, Jalisco, (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis landrace Balsas) averaged higher in grain yield, but they were not statistically superior to the reference control LUG282xCML311 (alpha = 0.05); while in the combined ANOVA by treatments only the hybrid with teosinte T100 (T = treatment number) was statistically superior to reference control for grain yield (alpha = 0.05). Among other traits, hybrids with Zea diploperennis introgressions (San Andres Milpillas, Nayarit) appeared to be a reliable source for resistance to foliar diseases.