Comparison of non-overlapping maize populations of unequal sizes for resistance to maize lethal necrosis

Contrast between marker-assisted backcross (MABC) and doubled haploid (DH) methods in transferring genes for resistance to maize lethal necrosis (MLN) (Zea mays L.) is not well understood. The MLN caused by co-infection of plant chlorotic mottle virus sugarcane mosaic virus. Two panels consisting four BC3F2 six DH populations, separately developed through selection from crosses susceptible CIMMYT lines MLN-resistant donor parent (KS23-6), were used the current study. two populations different population structures with unequal sizes. Experiments conducted under artificial inoculations seasons 2018. Analyses variance revealed significant variations among genotypes both (p ≤ 0.001). Levene’s Welch’s tests found that variances means highly study identified reduced infections populations; however, lower severity area disease progress curve (AUDPC) values, higher heritability estimates obtained than populations. Additionally, showed relative genetic gains compared detected superiority over MABC breeding MLN. Nevertheless, results observed present warrant further investigations using same materials identical