Principles of Plant Breeding (2+1)

Ear to row method

 
• It is the simplest form of progeny selection. Which is extensively used in maize. This method was developed by Hopkins

  a) A number of plants are selected on the basis of their phenotype. They are allowed to open pollinate and seeds are harvested on single plant basis.
  b) A single row of say 50 plants i.e. progeny row is raised from seeds harvested on single plant basis. The progeny rows are evaluated for desirable characters and superior progenies are identified.
  c) Several phenotypically superior plants are selected from progeny rows. There is no control on pollination and plants are permitted to open pollinate. Though this scheme in simple, there is no control over pollination of selected plants. Inferior pollen may pollinate the plants in the progeny row.
• To overcome this defect, the following method is suggested.

  a) At the time of harvest of selected plants from base population on single plant basis, part of the seed is reserved.
  b) While raising progeny rows, after reserving part of the seeds, the rest are sown in smaller progeny rows.
  c) Study the performance of progenies in rows and identify the best ones.
  d) After identifying the best progenies, the reserve seeds of the best progenies may be raised in progeny rows.
  e) The progenies will be allowed for open pollination and best ones are selected. There are number of other modifications made in the ear to row selection.
For example, i) The selected progenies may be selfed instead of open pollination ii) The selected plants may be crossed to a tester parent. The tester parent may be a open pollinated variety, or inbred. iii) The progeny test may be conducted in replicated trial.