YIELD AND INTRINSIC QUALITY OF PROTEIN QUALITY MAIZE CROSSES AT ENVIRONMENTS OF HIGH VALLEYS OF MEXICO

Abstract

Maize grain is deficient in lysine and tryptophan, essential amino acids for human nutrition. The generation of genotypes with more nutritious grain could favor people’s health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of location on yield, physical properties and protein quality of the grain of 18 single cross quality-protein maize (QPM) (Zea mays L.). The QPM genotypes resulted from the cross of six male-sterile QPM lines (LQ1, LQ2, LQ3, LQ4, LQ5 and LQ6) and three elite QPM lines (CML173, CML354 y CML352). These genotypes were evaluated in two locations, FESC-UNAM and CEVAMEX-INIFAP, in spring and summer 2014. The evaluated variables were yield, hectoliter weight, 100 grain weight, floatation index, protein, lysine, tryptophan and quality index in the Laboratorio de Maíz of INIFAP. For all the variables, an analysis of variance, combined and individual, and the Tukey test of comparison of means were performed. The simple crosses with higher productivity and better physical quality characteristics (in both localities) were LQ6 x CML352, LQ3 x CML352 and LQ4 x CML354, which had medium-size grains and medium and hard texture. Only the LQ5 x CML354 cross had percentages of tryptophan and lysine close to those indicated in the literature for quality-protein maize