RESEARCH REGARDING CORRELATIONS BETWEEN PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF SOME MAIZE HYBRIDS CREATED AT ARDS LOVIN (TIMIS COUNTY)

In the process of maize breeding, over time, researchers have shown that improving grain quality leads to a decrease of productivity, between quality and productivity being a negative linear correlation, which is also highlighted by the results of this study. The purpose of this research is to create and identify maize hybrids with a high percentage of protein and oil content in kernels. In order to accomplish the objective we needed to use specific breeding methods to transfer the genes involved, methods like: recurrent and recurrent-reciprocal selection, crosses and back-crosses. The obtained hybrids were observed in a comparative culture consisting of 20 simple maize hybrids, with different vegetation periods, perspective hybrids created at ARDS Lovrin. In addition to the determinations made during this study, regarding the production, oil and protein content of maize hybrids, we were interested to see how these characters are correlated. The methods used for the statistical interpretation were: analysis of variance, Student test and different correlations between quality indices, as well as between quality indices and the production components. The limit value of the correlation coefficient for the probability of transgression α was calculated according to table XI - Ceapoiu. The percentage of protein in maize kernels usually has values between 9% and 11%. In the maize breeding process, one of the purposes is to exceed the maximum threshold, but also to improve the quality of protein, because it is deficient in essential aminoacids (lysine and tryptophan).The percentage of protein in maize grain is polygenically determined. To increase the percentage of protein in kernels, it is recommended that in the breedin gprocess, the female form (inbred lines with female inflorescence) to be the one with a high protein content, because 2/3 of the endosperm comes from the maternal parent. The quality of maize kernels can be tested through animal experiments, their response being one of the best selection criteria, as it was found that there are differences in preferences of some hybrids, even if from a biochemical point of view they are similar. A special use of corn kernels is found in the food industry. In addition to their use in obtaining corn meal, they are also used for oil extraction. It is known that there is a negative correlation between corn grain production and kernel quality, because while improving the quality of maize kernels, production decreases.