EARLY COMPOUND (VS-409) NEW VARIETY OF CORN FOR THE NORTHEAST OF MEXICO

Abstract

In the North and Central areas of the States of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, 70 thousand hectareas are sown with corn (Zea mays L.) under rainfed conditions. during the spring-summer season. Due to the short growth season (120 days) early genotypes are required in this region. Most of the available corn varieties showed low yields and susceptibility to diseases and lodqinq. In order to develope high yielding and early maturity open pollinated corn varieties, a breeding project was started at the Río Bravo Experimental Station. A new varrety Compuesto Precoz (VS-409), was obtained, by applying the modified ear-to-row selection method for grain yield, earliness and leaf and ear diseases tolerance, among other characteristics, toa population wich included crosses between native varieties and elite corn lines. When compared to two of the most preferred corn varieties (V-402 and Ratón) through yield essays in 14 environments across the Northern part of Mexico, VS-409 matured up toa week earlier than the "late" control (V-402) and yielded 10% more grain thant the "early" control (Ratón).