文摘
European flint maize ( Zea mays L.)cannot be considered an uniform group ofgermplasm based on its origin and area ofadaptation. However, maize breeders havenot taken full advantage of the variabilitywithin the European flint germplasm. Theobjective of this work was to study theheterotic relationships among Europeanmaize inbreds from different origins. NineEuropean flint inbreds were crossed in adiallel that was evaluated in threeenvironments in northwestern Spain. Thevariability within the European flintgermplasm and the agronomic value of someinbreds could be utilized for maizebreeding programs as an alternative to thesystematic introduction of U.S. dentgermplasm that is narrowing the germplasmbase of breeding programs even in placeswhere it is poorly adapted. Some Europeanflint inbreds may also be valuable sourcesof earliness (F7 and EP42), resistance toroot lodging (EA1070), and yield (EP42).These results suggest that, within theEuropean flint germplasm, there could besome heterotic patterns, such as`north-central Europe × southern Europe',which could provide an alternative to theheterotic pattern `European flint × U.S. dent'.