Major genes and polygenes inheritance for pericarp thickness of sweet corn

【Objective】 The aim was to study the genetic mode of sweet corn pericarp thickness to improve sweet corn breeding and molecular marker-assisted selection(MAS).【Method】 Cross combination was designed by selecting two sweet corn inbred(T4 and T19) with different pericarp thicknesses.A joint analysis of six generations(P1,P2,F1,B1,B2 and F2)from a cross of T19×T4 was performed using the mode of major genes and polygenes mixed inheritance of quantitative traits.【Result】 The result showed that the best genetic model for pericarp thickness was D-2(one major-gene with additive effect and polygene with additive-dominant effect).The heritabilities of major genes were greater than polygenes in the corresponding separation of generation.The major gene heritabilities of B1,B2,and F2 were 59.65%,55.17%,and 65.24% respectively,and their heritabilities of corresponding polygenes were 37.84%,41.40%,and 32.65% respectively.Major genes additive effect was-27.186 4,polygenes additive effect was 0.289 5,and dominant effect was 5.742 3.【Conclusion】 The inheritance of the major gene was dominant in pericarp thickness.These results suggested that the attention should be paid to both major genes and polygenes when breeding sweet corn.