2006 Trials

In 2006, 13 field studies were designed to address several aspects of the silage breeding and genetics program.

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

A new research effort started 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 are evaluating corn stover remaining in the field after grain havest. The 49 entries appear in trial BIOFEED.

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 three of our trials, GEMNEW, GQS604S, and M224332.

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

The WQSVITA-C and CUBAVITA-C trials were designed to evaluate of relationships between S6 topcrosses (both open-pollinated and self-pollinated) and S2 inbred lines from which they were derived for kernel and starch properties. The information from these trials will help us determine if or when to evaluate kernel properties that may influence starch degradability.

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
WQS244 The fourth cycle of selection in the WQS breeding population involves testcrosses of 101 S2-3 families from WQS C3 with the inbred tester LH244.
GQS604S The first cycle of selection in the GQS breeding population involves testcrosses of 73 S2 families from GQS C0 with the inbred tester W604S.
GEMNEW Evaluation of 23 new GEM lines crossed to HC33, LH198, or LH287.
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 harvest for fermentable energy production. Hybrids include WQS inbred lines as well as hybrids that are near-isogenic 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.
M244332 Evaluation of 56 hybrids involving advanced lines from WQS C2, GEM lines from CHO5015:N15 and SCRO1:N1310-398-1-B, and lines from LAX X B102.
WQSVITA-C Evaluation of relationships between WQS S6 testcrosses (both open-pollinated and self-pollinated) and S2inbred lines from which they were derived for kernel and starch properties.
CUBAVITA-C Evaluation of relationships between CUBA164:S1517 S5 testcrosses (both open-pollinated and self-pollinated) and the S2 inbred lines from which they were derived for kernel and starch properties.