Performance of newly developed QPM lines nersuries in north Vietnam

Abstract

Sixty QPM (High Quality Protein Maize) inbred  lines were evaluated in 2007 Summer - Autumn crop
(rainy season) in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. The field experiment (planted 28 July, 2007) design was
an Alpha Lattice (6 x10) with 2 replications, 1 row per plot of 3,6 m long, 60 x 25 cm hill and 1 plant/hill.
Cultural practices and data collection were based on CIMMYT's guidelines (1986) and standard protocol
for evaluation of new maize varieties of the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development of Vietnam (10
TCN 341-2006). The results showed that among 60 QPM  lines there were large variations in maturity,
tolerance to ear rot, ear characteristics and grain yields etc,. Applying selection index in Alpha program
(CIMMYT, 1999) for 10 characters closely correlated with grain yield, 10 lines were selected: D3, D6, D8,
D21, D22, D24, D42 D58, and D59 with yields  ranging from 23.37 to 45.00  quintals/ha, good lodging
tolerance, good resistance to stalk and ear rot. Among selections,  3 lines, viz. D2, D24 and D31  had
higher yield than the check CML161 (P≤ 0,05). In addition, these 10 lines also had several desirable
characters, such as high yield components, good husk cover, abundant brace roots and minimum barren
ear tip. Using cluster analysis by NTSYS 2.1 program, a phenogram divided 60 lines into two main groups,
the first includes 3 lines: D23, D24 and D10; the second consists of lines from D1 to D46. Among lines D12
- D15, D7 and D20, D18, D37 no cross was suggested because they are similar in many traits.