The effect of selection for lower ear height on yield in synthetic populations of maize

Description: Two populations of maize [ Antigua 2D x (BIO x Bl4)] and F 5 [ Eto x CBC3]f 5 were used in a selection experiment conducted in Lafayette, Ind. in order to determine the effectiveness of 50% selection, pressure in lowering the ear height. These two populations were subjected to two cycles of selection, each followed by a generation of random intermating. The selection was practiced within each day’s sillting to avoid confounding with maturity. The-evaluations, made in three locations in 1968, were with the' populations per se arid the top crosses of these populations with five testers. The characters studied were: yield, per cent moisture, per cent lodging and ear height,- to determine the effect of selection on each, of them.