Wednesday, 9 November 2005 - 9:30 AM
228-7

Agronomic Performance, Aflatoxin Response, and Grain Attributes of Argentine Maize Hybrids in Southern U.S.

Brett A. Ochs, F. Javier Betran, Kerry L. Mayfield, M. Cody McKee, and Tom Isakeit. Texas A&M University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Mailstop 2474, College Station, TX 77843-2474

Maize germplasm from temperate and tropical regions outside the U.S. can increase genetic diversity and provide novel alleles for disease and insect resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and grain quality. Argentine germplasm in particular has desired attributes such as hard endosperm, temperate adaptation, good husk cover, and orange grain color. Our objectives were to determine agronomic performance, adaptation, and stability of Argentine commercial hybrids across Texas environments, and estimate the response of these hybrids to aflatoxin contamination under inoculation with Aspergillus flavus. Hybrids were evaluated in replicated trials at 11 Texas environments ranging from subtropical to temperate. Alpha-lattice design with 2 or 3 replications was used. Commercial U.S. hybrids (P31B13, P32R25, W4700, DK6680, and DK 6970) were used as checks. Hand harvested samples at each location were used to estimate aflatoxin accumulation (VICAM AFLATest®), test weights and 1000 kernel weights. When compared with U.S. hybrids, Argentine hybrids had lower yield (9.41 Mg ha-1 vs. 10.44 Mg ha-1), less aflatoxin (104.41 ng g-1 vs. 124.44 ng g-1), lower 1000 kernel weights (275.16 g vs. 311.57 g), higher moisture (16.39 % vs. 14.44 %), and similar test weights (76.08 kg hl-1 vs. 76.08 kg hl-1) and lodging (8.02 % vs. 6.81 %). The top yielding Argentine hybrids AX889, AX882MG, and AX890MG had similar yield (10.06, 10.19, and 9.99 Mg ha-1, respectively), grain moisture (15.21, 15.53, and 15.76 %, respectively) to U.S. hybrids. Hybrids AX889 and AX882MG had similar test weights (76.38 and 76.04 kg hl-1) and 1000 kernel weights (306.9 and 287.08 g) to U.S. hybrids. Hybrid AX889 also had low lodging (6.48%) and together with AX890MG the lowest aflatoxin accumulation (18.57 and 62.17 ng g-1). Several Argentine hybrids were stable across environments in Texas for grain yield, test weights, and 1000 kernel weights.

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