Response to Reciprocal Full-sib and Mass Selection in Corn (Zea mays L.)

Responses to mass selection for number of ears per plant and reciprocal full-sib selection for grain yield in 2 synthetic varieties of corn (Zea mays L.) were determined. Ten cycles of mass selection were effective for increasing number of ears per plant, but no correlated response for grain yield improvement was realized. Reciprocal full-sib selection was effective in increasing grain yield of the 2 parental varieties and their cross and in increasing number of ears per plant. No evidence was obtained that indicated genetic variability decreased in the parent varieties after 4 cycles of reciprocal full-sib selection or after 5 cycles of selection for the interpopulation full-sib crosses. Reciprocal full-sib selection was more effective than mass selection for improvement of other agronomic traits