On Significance of Heterotic Group Theory in Hybrid Rice Breeding

Heterotic group theory （HGT） has played a major role in supporting hybrid maize breeding for about 100 years. The basic content and studies of HGT, and its application in rice and maize were summarized in this paper. Additionally, difficulties and challenges for hybrid rice breeding in China were analyzed, and necessity and urgency in hybrid rice breeding by using HGT were proposed.

Pedigree and Germplasm Base of Inbreds of the Tangshan Sipingtou Heterotic Group of Maize in China

The Tangshan Sipingtou (TSSPT) germplasm in inbreds of the Tangshan Sipingtou heterotic group of maize in China was mainly derived from Huangzao4, and the source of TSSPT germplasm was severely restricted by the inbred Tangsipingtou. Except Tangsipingtou, the contents of TSSPT germplasm were only 50% or less in inbreds of this group, with the existence of more than 20 non-TSSPT gennplasms which resulted in abundant genetic diversity in this group. 95.22% inbreds of this group contained both TSSPT and UNS(unknown source) gennplasms in the ratio of 1 :1, with 12. 5 - 50% of each germplasm. The recombination of TSSPT and UNS germplasms had produced Huangzao4, the most important maize germplasm of compact plant form. About 90. 24% of the inbreds in this group were the inbred Huangzao4 and its derivatives. 11.11% of the derivatives contained 25 - 50% of Luda Honggu(LDHG) germplasm, and 16.67% of the derivatives contained 12. 5 - 25% Creole and 6. 25 -28.13% LSC germplasms. In addition, 97. 56% of the inbreds of this group contained one or more non-TSSPT germplasms. This indicates that the germplasm base of inbreds of the TSSPT heterotic group had changed and evolved away from actual TSSPT germplasm.

Pedigree and Germplasm Base of Inbreds of the Lancaster Heterotic Group of Maize in China

Lancaster Surecrop (LSC) germplasm in inbreds of the Lancaster heterotic group in China was mainly provided by the two inbreds Mol7 and Oh43. Furthermore, the source of LSC germplasm was severely restricted in two inbreds, C103 and Oh40B. The contents of LSC germplasm are 50% or less in inbreds of the group, with the existence of more than 20 non-LSC germplasms that results in the abundant genetic diversity in the group. Most inbreds of Mol7 subgroup contain 25% - 50% LSC, 12.5% - 25% Reid Yellow Dent (RYD) and 12.5%- 25% Iowa Goldmine germplasms in the ratio of 2:1:1, and most inbreds of Zi330 subgroup contain 12.5% - 25% LSC, 6.25% - 12.5% RYD, 6.25% - 12.5% Minnesota # 13 and 25% - 50% Creole germplasms in the ratio of 2:1:1 4. AH the facts indicated that the germplasm base of the Lancaster heterotic group has stupendously changed and evolved away from actual LSC germplasm.

Analysis of Maize Heterotic Groups and Patterns During Past Decade in China

In this investigation, maize heterotic groups and patterns were analyzed based on theplanting areas from 1992 to 2001 using 84 parent lines of 71 widely extended hybrids andclassification results by SSR markers, in which these lines were assigned into sevenheterotic groups based on Ni-LIs genetic distances. The results indicated that acertain extent change for major heterotic groups of maize took place during past decadein China. The major heterotic groups were Lancaster, Reid, Tang SPT, Zi330 and E28 in theearly 1990s, while they became Reid, Tem-tropicⅠ, Zi330, Tang SPT and Lancaster in theearly 21st century. Tem-tropicⅠwas a new heterotic group, which contained tropic maizegermplasm. The changes for heterotic patterns also occurred. Some new heterotic patternscombining with Tem-tropicⅠappeared, such as ReidTem-tropicⅠ, Zi330Tem-tropicⅠ,Tang SPTTem-tropicⅠ, etc.. Another change was the order of heterotic patterns. In theearly and middle 1990s, the top five heterotic patterns were ReidTang SPT, Zi330Lancaster, LancasterTang SPT, LancasterE28 and ReidZi330, while they became ReidTem-tropicⅠ, ReidZi330, ReidTang SPT, Zi330Tem-tropicⅠand LancasterTang SPT inthe early 21 century. ReidTem-tropicⅠand Zi330Tem-tropicⅠwere laid on the firstand forth Chinese heterotic patterns respectively in 2001. These results providedsignificant information to understand the maize heterotic groups and patterns in Chinaat molecular level.

Heterosis and heterotic patterns of maize germplasm revealed by a multiple-hybrid population under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions

Understanding the heterosis in multiple environments between different heterotic groups is of fundamental importance in successful maize breeding. A total of 737 hybrids derived from 41 maize inbreds were evaluated over two years, with the aim of assessing the genetic diversity and their performance between heterotic groups under drought-stressed(DS) and well-watered(WW) treatments. A total of 38 737 SNPs were employed to assess the genetic diversity. The genetic distance(GD) between the parents ranged from 0.05 to 0.74, and the 41 inbreds were classified into five heterotic groups. According to the hybrid performance(high yield and early maturity between heterotic groups), the heterosis and heterotic patterns of Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic(BSSS)×Non-Stiff Stalk(NSS), NSS×Sipingtou(SPT) and BSSS×SPT were identified to be useful options in China’s maize breeding. The relative importance of general and specific combining abilities(GCA and SCA) suggests the importance of the additive genetic effects for grain yield traits under the WW treatment, but the non-additive effects under the DS treatment. At least one of the parental lines with drought tolerance and a high GCA effect would be required to achieve the ideal hybrid performance under drought conditions. GD showed a positive correlation with yield and yield heterosis in within-group hybrids over a certain range of GD. The present investigation suggests that the heterosis is due to the combined accumulation of superior genes/alleles in parents and the optimal genetic distance between parents, and that yield heterosis under DS treatment was mainly determined by the non-additive effects.

A Classification of 45 Maize Inbred Lines Used in China with RFLP Markers

The classification of heterotic groups is essential to maize breeding because knowledge of heterotic groups could be interest to both the combination of outstanding hybrids and the improvement of elite inbred lines. RFLP has provided a powerful tool to assign maize inbred lines into heterotic groups. In this investigation, 45 inbred lines, used widely in south and southwest China, were chosen for RFLP analysis, among which 4 lines came from American, representing different heterotic groups in U.S. corn belt. 54 RFLP core markers covering 10 chromosomes of maize were used. A total DNA of each sample was digested with EcoR I, BamH I and Hind 1. The procedure of RFLP was employed as described by a manual from maize RFLP lab at University of Missouri, Columbia. A total of 860 bands were detected among 45 inbred lines based on RFLP analysis, which were involved in 212 loci. Alleles at each locus ranged from 2 to 9 with an average of 4.06. In total, The 45 inbred lines were classified into 6 heterotic groups according to RFLP data with Ward's method. 3 heterotic groups, including Mol7, B73 and Oh43 respectively, seemed to be the same to U. S. heterotic groups. 21 inbred lines, most of which derived from Chinese local germplasm, were classified together into two heterotic groups, indicating domistic germplasm was different from U. S. germplasm at the molecular level and played an important role in maize hybrid production in China. Two inbred lines from tropic germplasm were assigned in the same group. These results provided useful information for our understanding maize heterotic groups and heterotic patterns in China.

Genetic Distance Estimated by RAPD Markers and Performance of Topcross Hybrids in Popcorn

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity of 14 popcorn populations and a broad genetic base tester using molecular RAPD markers and to estimate the correlation between the genetic distances and the performance of top-cross hybrids. For the evaluation of populations and hybrids resulting from topcrosses, the reduced model of Gardner was used. A genetic distance matrix was generated based on RAPD markers by Jaccard coefficient, and a dendrogram was constructed. In general, topcrosses performed better than the populations per se and evidenced heterosis occurrence in topcrosses. The trait grain weight is influenced by additive as much as by dominance effects. Genetic associations separated the populations in three groups, and RAPD showed to be a useful tool to determine the extension of genetic diversity in popcorn populations and to place genotypes in distinct heterotic groups. Correlations between genetic divergences, detected by RAPD, and the means observed in the topcross crosses were positive and non-significant for expansion volume, plant height, and female flowering, and were negative for grain weight.