Southwest‐adapted maize germplasm as a potential genetic resource for selection of salinity tolerant cultivars

• DOI: 10.1002/csc2.20654
• Publication Date: 2021-10-20T18:19:48Z
• Authors: Richard C. Pratt; Ciro Velasco‐Cruz; Murali Darapuneni; Randall Montgomery; Lois Grant
• Keywords: Germ plasm; Drought Tolerance

Abstract The southwestern United States–northern Mexico Borderland Region (SW) is an arid to semi‐arid region characterized by high temperatures, drought, and frequently saline soil conditions. Nonetheless, maize ( Zea mays ) has been cultivated in the for several millennia recently increasingly contributed a growing dairy industry. Water resources are declining, or brackish irrigation water increasing problem SW. Irrigation that highly can cause buildup of salts soil. Adapted SW germplasm may offer stress tolerance could be incorporated into breeding programs. objective this study was evaluate 13 cultivars compare them four commercial hybrids across 2 yr three locations New Mexico. Two were and/or Agronomic factors including forage yield, quality, survival rates, plant height examined. landrace ‘Mexican June’ synthetic population Arizona 8601 demonstrated good yields higher rates at one location during 2016 p < .05). Most landraces showed lower quality when compared silage‐specific hybrids. ‘Montgomery County Blue White’ exception; it produced similar while also producing comparable yield. Results indicate there potential further development these genetic selection improved salinity production regions.