Data_Sheet_1_Final Selection of Quality Protein Popcorn Hybrids.PDF

Quality Protein Popcorn (QPP) BC2F5 inbred lines were produced through an interpopulation breeding system between Quality Protein Maize dent (QPM) and elite popcorn germplasm. In 2019, five QPP F1 hybrids were selected for further evaluation due to superior agronomics, endosperm protein quality, and popping quality traits. Though these BC2F5 QPP hybrids were phenotypically similar to their popcorn parents, the QPP cultivars conveyed slightly inferior popping characteristics when compared to the original popcorn germplasm. The objective of this study was twofold. First, BC2F5 inbred lines were crossed to their popcorn parents and BC3F4 inbred lines were produced for hybridization to test the agronomic, protein, and popping trait effects from an additional QPP by popcorn backcross. Second, BC2- and BC3-hybrids were simultaneously evaluated alongside ConAgra Brands® elite cultivars and ranked for potential commercialization in the spring of 2020. These 10 QPP hybrids were grown alongside five ConAgra Brands® elite popcorn cultivars in three locations and agronomic, protein quality, and popping quality traits were evaluated. Significant improvements in popcorn quality traits were observed in the QPP BC3 cultivars compared to their BC2 counterparts, and yield averages were significantly lower in BC3-derived QPP hybrids compared to the BC2 population. Protein quality traits were not significantly different between QPP backcrossing populations and significantly superior to ConAgra elite popcorn varieties. Utilizing a previously published ranking system, six QPP hybrids, three from the BC2F5 population and three from the BC3F4 population, were evaluated as candidates for final selection. The successful evaluation and ranking system methodology employed is transferable to other hybrid production and testing programs. Incorporating this analysis with concurrent sensory studies, two QPP hybrids were chosen as premier cultivars for potential commercialization.

优质蛋白爆裂玉米（Quality Protein Popcorn, QPP）BC2F5自交系系通过优质蛋白硬质胚乳玉米（Quality Protein Maize dent, QPM）与优良爆裂玉米种质间的群体间育种体系培育获得。2019年，研究人员筛选出5个QPP F1杂交种开展进一步评估，因其兼具优异的农艺性状、胚乳蛋白品质与爆花品质性状。
尽管该批BC2F5 QPP杂交种在表型上与其爆裂玉米亲本高度相似，但相较于原始爆裂玉米种质，QPP品种的爆花特性略有不足。
本研究的目标分为两点：其一，将BC2F5自交系与其爆裂玉米亲本进行杂交，培育BC3F4自交系，用于后续杂交实验，以测试额外一轮QPP与爆裂玉米回交所带来的农艺、蛋白及爆花性状效应；其二，于2020年春季同时对BC2、BC3代杂交种与康尼格拉品牌（ConAgra Brands®）的优良品种进行评估，并对其商业化潜力进行排序。
本研究将10个QPP杂交种与5个康尼格拉品牌（ConAgra Brands®）优良爆裂玉米品种在3个试验地点同期种植，对其农艺性状、蛋白品质及爆花品质性状开展测评。结果显示，相较于BC2代群体，QPP BC3代品种的爆花品质性状得到显著改善，但BC3衍生的QPP杂交种的平均产量则显著低于BC2代群体。QPP回交群体间的蛋白品质性状无显著差异，但所有QPP回交群体的蛋白品质均显著优于康尼格拉品牌的优良爆裂玉米品种。
采用已发表的评分体系，研究人员对6个QPP杂交种（3个来自BC2F5群体，3个来自BC3F4群体）作为最终选育候选品种进行评估。本研究所采用的高效评估与评分体系方法可推广至其他杂交种培育与测试项目。结合同步开展的感官评价实验，最终筛选出2个QPP杂交种作为具备商业化潜力的优质品种。