Aluminium toxicity tolerance of maize inbred lines and hybrids evaluated in nutrient solution

Ten inbred lines and the resulting forty-five hybrids from the maize IAC breeding program were evaluated for Al tolerance by the nutrient solution technique. Net radicle lengths (CLR) of plants grown with 4.5 mg.L-1 were used to estimate Al tolerance. The experimental design was randomized complete block with four replications, and it was used two divergent inbred lines IAC Taiuba as control for Al tolerance and sensitivity, respectively. In addition to these data, it is shown also the grain yield of the same materials from field plots. It was identified two inbred lines (L 06 and L 09) as Al tolerance sources and hybrids potentially adapted to acid soil conditions (tolerant to Al toxicity). From the diallel analysis, the treatment effects were separated into general (CGC) and specific (CEC) combining ability and indicated the predominance of additive effects on the Al tolerance manifestation. High values of hybrid vigor were obtained, indicating the existence of interactions non-allelic in the manifestation of CLR. The hybrid HS 10X11 (named IAC 21) showed higher productivity and Al tolerance, and also a higher CEC estimate for CLR.

Zea mays; genotypes; Al tolerance; diallel; combining ability