Gene frequencies in mass-selected corn populations and in derived random inbred lines

Journal Article · · Crop Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6466029

Kling, J G; Gardner, C O; Thomas-Compton, M A

The use of randomly developed lines from a population for estimating genetic variances requires the assumption that gene frequencies are unaffected by natural selection and remain constant with inbreeding. To determine whether gene frequencies were in fact influenced by natural selection, starch gel electrophoresis was used to identify genotypes at 10 isozyme loci in three corn (Zea mays L.) populations and in random lines derived from them. Two of the populations had been improved by 15 cycles of mass selection for increased grain yield. One of these improved populations had received thermal neutron treatments at Cycle 0 and after one cycle of selection. The other population studied was the original open-pollinated cultivar. Allelic frequencies in random lines derived from mass-selected populations were affected little by inbreeding. However, natural selection appeared to have more impact on allelic frequencies of lines developed from the original cultivar, suggesting that deleterious recessive alleles were reduced in frequency by mass selection. Changes in allelic frequencies associated with mass selection were noted for Est1 and Prx1 in the irradiated and control populations. Gametic phase disequilibrium was not widely detected in the inbred lines, but was common for loci in combination with Mdh2.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln
• OSTI ID: 6466029
• Journal Information: Crop Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Crop Sci.; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN CRPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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