Recurrent selection for intrapopulation improvement and cultivar development in maize (Zea mays L.) — An analysis

Recurrent selection is widely used in maize (Zea mays L) breeding. Extensive studies have been carried out on recurrent selection for intrapopulation improvement in elite populations by the Indian maize breeders. In the present study, the results of some experiments conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, have been analysed with respect to improvement in the elite populations per se and development of open-pollinated (OP) cultivars. The analysis indicates that, though, recurrent selection has been effective in enhancing the performance of elite populations per se, recurrent selection accompanied by germplasm introgression in elite population has been more successful in OP cultivar development. It suggests that step-wise intervarietal hybridization accompanied by recurrent selection for intrapopulation improvement may be a better approach than recurrent selection within populations without germplasm introgression, for the development of OP cultivars.