2005 Trials

In 2005, 13 field studies were designed to address several aspects of the silage breeding and genetics program.

Advanced lines from cycles WQS C1 & WQS C2 were crossed to two inbreds, and these testcrosses appear in trials named for the tester inbreds (WQS33, WQS198) as well as trials ALTEST, RETESTEARLY, and RETESTLATE.

Five recently-released inbred lines W601S-W605S were each crossed to HC33, LH198, LH227, LH244, LH332, and TR7245 appear in trial NEWINB.

As in past years, the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) program has provided our program promising breeding populations from Latin America. GEM lines appear in five of our trials, GEM33, GEM198, GEM279, GEM287, and GEMNEW.

A new research effort in 2005 is dedicated to determining the most appropriate germplasm for use as fermentable feedstocks for enery production. WQS germplasm is the initial focus for this effort in which we will evaluate corn stover remaining in the field after grain havest. The 49 entries appear in trial BIOFEED.

In trial INBREDEVAL, the stover of recently released and experimental lines inbred lines, along with brown midrib isogenic lines, will be evaluated for fiber compostion and digestibility.

Most of the trials also included numerous checks and experimental germplasm used by the silage breeding program and the UW Corn Extension Program program directed by J.G. Lauer.

Trial Description
WQS33 Evaluation of 66 advanced inbred families from WQS C2 testcrossed to HC33.
WQS198 Evaluation of 37 advanced inbred families from WQS C2 testcrossed to LH198.
ALTTEST Evaluation of 29 hybrids involving inbred families from WQS C1 & C2 testcrossed to HC33.
RETESTEARLY Retest of 23 early-maturing and productive hybrids from 2004 along with several new crosses.
RETESTLATE Retest of 26 late-maturing and productive hybrids from 2004 along with several new crosses.
GEM33 Evaluation of 63 advanced inbred families from GEM breeding population BR52051:N04 and AR17026:N1019 testcrossed to HC33.
GEM198 Evaluation of 66 advanced inbred families from GEM breeding populations BR52051:N04, DKXL370:n11a20, SCRO1:N1310, and AR17026:N1019 testcrossed to LH198.
GEM279 Evaluation of 108 advanced inbred families from GEM breeding populations CHIS775:S1911b, CUBA164:S1517, CUBA164:S2012, and CUBA117:S1520 testcrossed to LH279.
GEM287 Evaluation of 99 advanced inbred families from GEM breeding populations CHIS775:S1911b, CUBA164:S1517, CUBA164:S2012, and CUBA117:S1520 testcrossed to LH287.
GEMNEW Evaluation of 24 new GEM lines crossed to LH185, LH198, LH200, or LH283.
NEWINB Evaluation of 29 hybrids involving the five recently-released inbred lines W601S-W605S crossed to HC33, LH198, LH227, LH244, LH332, and TR7245. Population crosses involving WQS C0-WQS C3 with LH198 and HC33.
BIOFEED Evaluation of corn stover remaining in the field after grain havest for fermentable energy production. Hybrids include WQS inbred lines as well as hybrids that are iso-genic for four brown-midrib alleles. A publication summarizing the results from this evaluation was generated.
INBREDEVAL Evaluation of stover composition and digestibility of recently released and experimental lines inbred lines, along with brown midrib iso-genic lines.