Utilization of Iodent Germplasm in Breeding New High-Performing Maize Hybrids

Maize (Zea mays L.) can be classified into several germplasm groups and crossing between these groups can produce hybrids with high heterosis. Iodent is one of the most widely used heterotic groups, both for creating new inbred lines and for developing high-performing hybrids. Thirteen inbred lines (nine Iodent and four Iodent mixed) were used as maternal parents to create new hybrids, which were tested during the 2020–2025 period at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda. Agronomic traits, including grain yield, the percentage of unlodged plants and dry matter content at harvest were evaluated as selection criteria to identify elite parental lines. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed as an exploratory multivariate analysis to investigate relationships among the maternal inbred lines based on grain yield, unlodged plants and dry matter. Hybrids derived from female line A452 outperformed the trial mean in all years studied, whereas those using line E390 as the female parent exceeded the average in five out of six years. PCA provided an exploratory visualization of the multivariate relationships among the evaluated maternal inbred lines.