Supplementary Table S1 Genotypes tested for each family of NILs, components of the genotypes’ source of variation for each of the three experiments and corresponding degrees of freedom (df)

Genotypes tested for each family of NILs
Experiment 1 / Experiment 2 / Experiment 3
BB a / BB × B73 / BB × A632b
HH a / BB × H99 / BB × Lo1016b
BB × HH / HH × B73 / BB × Mo17c
HH × BB / HH × H99 / BB × Va26c
HH × A632
HH × Lo1016
HH × Mo17
HH × Va26
Components of the Genotypes’ source of variation
Experiment 1 / df / Experiment 2 / df / Experiment 3 / df
BB vs. HH d / 1 / Testers (TS) / 1 / TS / 3
Reciprocal crosses (RCs) / 1 / BB vs. HH e / 1 / SSS vs. LAN / 1
(BB and HH) vs. RCs f / 1 / TS × (BB vs. HH) g / 1 / Within SSS / 1
Within LAN / 1
BB vs. HH h / 1
TS × (BB vs. HH) i,j / 3

a BB and HH: NILs homozygous for the B73 and H99 QTL alleles, respectively

b Inbred line testers (A632 and Lo1016) belonging to Stiff Stalk Synthetic heterotic group (SSS)

c Inbred line testers (Mo17 and Va26) belonging to Lancaster heterotic group (LAN)

d Variation due to twice the QTL additive effect

e Variation due to the average effect of the QTL allele substitution (additive effect)

f Variation due to the QTL dominance effect

g Variation due to the QTL dominance effect

h Variation due to the average effect of the QTL allele substitution

i The partitioning of the three df is not presented being the same as that of TS

j Variation due to the QTL dominance effects

1

Supplementary Table S2 ANOVA: Significance levels of genotype sources of variation and interaction with the environments (EN) in Experiment 1; significance levels of plant density (PD), genotype and interaction with EN in Experiment 2; significance levels of genotype and interaction with EN in Experiment 3. For details concerning the genotype sources of variation see Table S1.

Source of variation / JV / PS / ASI / PH / SD / GYP / KW / KP / EP / KE
3.05_R08 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
PD / ** / * / ns / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / **
TS / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / * / ns / ns
PD x TS / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / * / ns / ns / * / ns
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD / ** / ** / ns / * / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / **
EN x TS / ** / ** / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / * / ns / ns / * / ** / ns / * / ns / ns / **
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / ** / ** / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / **
3.05_R08 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ns / ** / **
BB vs. HH c / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / * / ns
SSS vs. LAN / ns / * / ** / ns / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns
Within SSS, within LAN / ns / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / * / ns / *
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / *
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / * / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
3.05_R40 Experiment 1
EN / - / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH e / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / * / ns / ns / ns
RC f / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB and HH) vs. RC g / ns / ns / ns / ** / * / ** / ns / ** / ns / **
EN x (BB vs. HH) / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x RC / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns
EN x [(BB and HH) vs. RC] / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ** / * / * / ns
3.05_R40 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
PD / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
TS / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ns / ns / ** / ns / ** / * / ** / ns / ns / ns
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / **
PD x TS / ** / ** / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ** / ns
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD / ** / ** / * / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
EN x TS / ** / * / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ns / ** / ns / ns
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ** / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / * / ns / * / ns / * / ns / * / ns / *
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / * / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
3.05_R40 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ** / ** / - / ** / ** / ns / * / ns
BB vs. HH c / ns / ns / ** / ns / - / ** / ** / ns / ns / **
SSS vs. LAN / ns / ns / ** / ** / - / ** / ** / ns / ns / ns
Within SSS, within LAN / * / ns / ** / ** / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ns / ns / ** / ns / - / ** / ns / ** / ns / *
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / * / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ** / ns / - / * / ns / ** / ns / *
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / * / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
4.10_R40 Experiment 1
EN / - / ns / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH e / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns
RC f / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB and HH) vs. RC g / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / ns / **
EN x (BB vs. HH) / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x RC / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x [(BB and HH) vs. RC] / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / *
4.10_R40 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
PD / ns / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
TS / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / **
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / ** / ** / *
PD x TS / ns / ** / ns / ** / ** / ns / ns / * / ** / *
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / * / ** / ns / ns
EN x PD / ** / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / * / ** / ** / **
EN x TS / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / * / * / **
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / * / ns / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / *
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
4.10_R40 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ** / ** / - / ns / * / ** / ** / ns
BB vs. HH c / ns / ** / ns / ns / - / ns / ** / ** / ns / **
SSS vs. LAN / ns / ** / * / ** / - / ns / ** / ** / * / **
Within SSS, within LAN / ns / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ns / ns / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / * / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
4.10_R55 Experiment 1
EN / - / ** / ** / * / ** / ns / ** / ns / ** / **
BB vs. HH e / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
RC f / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB and HH) vs. RC g / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / **
EN x (BB vs. HH) / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns
EN x RC / - / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x [(BB and HH) vs. RC] / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
4.10_R55 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
PD / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
TS / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / * / ** / ns / **
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / * / ** / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / * / * / ns
PD x TS / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / * / ** / ns
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD / ns / ** / * / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / **
EN x TS / ** / * / ** / ** / ** / ns / * / ns / ** / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ** / ns / * / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
4.10_R55 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ns / ** / ns
BB vs. HH c / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / * / ns / ns / ns
SSS vs. LAN / ns / ns / ns / ** / - / ns / ** / ** / * / **
Within SSS, within LAN / * / ** / ns / * / - / ** / ** / ** / ns / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ** / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ** / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / * / * / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ** / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
7.03_R35 Experiment 1
EN / - / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / * / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH e / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns
RC f / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns
(BB and HH) vs. RC g / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns
EN x RC / - / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / * / *
EN x [(BB and HH) vs. RC] / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
7.03_R35 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
PD / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns
TS / ** / ** / * / ** / ** / ns / ** / * / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ns / ns / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ns / ns
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x TS / ns / ** / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD / ns / * / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / **
EN x TS / ** / ns / * / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / * / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / ns / * / ** / ns / * / ns / * / ** / **
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
7.03_R35 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ** / ** / - / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns
BB vs. HH c / ns / ns / ns / ** / - / ** / ns / ** / ns / **
SSS vs. LAN / * / ** / ** / ** / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
Within SSS, within LAN / * / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ns / ns / ns / * / - / * / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ** / ns / ns / - / ** / ns / ** / ns / ns
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / * / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
10.03_R63 Experiment 2
EN / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / **
PD / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
TS / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ns / ** / ** / ** / **
BB vs. HH a / ns / ns / * / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns
TS x (BB vs. HH) b / ** / ** / ** / ns / ns / ** / * / ** / ** / **
PD x TS / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ** / ** / ns / * / **
PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / *
EN x PD / ** / ns / * / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
EN x TS / ** / * / ** / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ** / **
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns
EN x PD x TS / ns / ns / ** / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x PD x [TS x (BB vs. HH)] / ns / ns / ** / ns / ns / ns / ns / * / ns / ns
10.03_R63 Experiment 3
EN / ns / ** / ** / ** / - / ns / ** / * / ns / ns
BB vs. HH c / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / *
SSS vs. LAN / ns / * / ns / ** / - / * / ns / ** / ns / **
Within SSS, within LAN / ** / ** / ns / ** / - / ** / ** / ** / ** / **
(BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) d / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
(BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / * / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ** / ns / ** / ** / ns
EN x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (SSS vs. LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns
EN x (BB vs. HH) x (within SSS, within LAN) / ns / ns / ns / ns / - / ns / ns / ns / ns / ns

*, ** : significant at P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01, respectively; ns: not significant; - : trait not estimated.

a Variation due to the average effect of the QTL allele substitution, i.e., additive effect

b Variation due to the QTL dominance effect

c Variation due to the average effect of the QTL allele substitution

d Variation due to the QTL dominance effects

e Variation due to twice the QTL additive effect

f Variation due to Reciprocal crosses

g Variation due to the QTL dominance effect

1

Supplementary Table S3 Mean values across three environments (years) of the four families of NIL BB and HH and of their crosses evaluated in Experiment 1

Trait / BB / HH / BB × HH / HH × BB / Mean
3.05_R40
JV (cm) / 107 / 105 / 104 / 112 / 107
PS (d) / 58.9 / 59.5 / 58.5 / 58.5 / 58.8
ASI (d) / 1.9 / 2.0 / 1.8 / 1.8 / 1.9
PH (cm) / 144 / 139 / 145 / 150 / 144
SD (mm) / 23.0 / 24.8 / 24.4 / 25.4 / 24.4
GYP (g) / 55 / 74 / 81 / 74 / 71
KW (mg) / 175 / 202 / 195 / 193 / 191
KP (no.) / 309 / 363 / 410 / 379 / 365
EP (no.) / 1.27 / 1.38 / 1.42 / 1.32 / 1.35
KE (no.) / 245 / 259 / 281 / 281 / 267
4.10_R40
JV (cm) / 117 / 109 / 120 / 117 / 116
PS (d) / 63.0 / 59.3 / 60.5 / 61.3 / 61.0
ASI (d) / 2.8 / 1.3 / 2.0 / 2.3 / 2.1
PH (cm) / 144 / 124 / 146 / 138 / 138
SD (mm) / 23.4 / 22.7 / 24.0 / 25.1 / 23.8
GYP (g) / 52 / 57 / 72 / 78 / 65
KW (mg) / 182 / 200 / 179 / 189 / 188
KP (no.) / 279 / 287 / 397 / 405 / 342
EP (no.) / 1.18 / 1.09 / 1.12 / 1.19 / 1.15
KE (no.) / 231 / 264 / 358 / 344 / 299
4.10_R55
JV (cm) / 105 / 97 / 109 / 108 / 105
PS (d) / 57.3 / 56.5 / 56.3 / 57.0 / 56.8
ASI (d) / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0.3 / 0.4
PH (cm) / 136 / 121 / 135 / 132 / 131
SD (mm) / 19.4 / 20.1 / 20.5 / 21.2 / 20.3
GYP (g) / 58 / 41 / 67 / 70 / 59
KW (mg) / 149 / 152 / 145 / 154 / 150
KP (no.) / 392 / 263 / 458 / 453 / 392
EP (no.) / 1.35 / 1.16 / 1.41 / 1.40 / 1.33
KE (no.) / 296 / 229 / 348 / 345 / 304
7.03_R35
JV (cm) / 125 / 109 / 121 / 118 / 118
PS (d) / 62.0 / 60.8 / 62.5 / 61.0 / 61.6
ASI (d) / 5.8 / 6.0 / 4.8 / 5.3 / 5.4
PH (cm) / 138 / 123 / 147 / 146 / 138
SD (mm) / 24.1 / 24.9 / 24.0 / 23.7 / 24.2
GYP (g) / 62 / 56 / 68 / 64 / 63
KW (mg) / 234 / 215 / 234 / 231 / 229
KP (no.) / 271 / 257 / 296 / 279 / 276
EP (no.) / 1.07 / 1.18 / 1.15 / 1.35 / 1.19
KE (no.) / 248 / 216 / 253 / 214 / 233

LSD (P ≤ 0.05) for comparing mean values within the same row: 7 cm (JV); 1.4 d (PS); 1.0 d (ASI); 7 cm (PH); 1.6 mm (SD); 13 g (GYP); 12 mg (KW); 69 no. (KP); 0.22 no. (EP); 48 no. (KE)

Supplementary Table S4 Mean values in Experiment 2 for the two plant densities and for the two related testers across three environments, six families of NILs, two testers (for plant densisties) and two plant densities (for testers)

Trait / Plants m-2 / Testers
4.5 / 9.0 / B73 / H99
JV (cm) / 128 / 127 a / 135 / 120 b
PS (d) / 61.1 / 62.3 / 63.4 / 60.0
ASI (d) / 0.1 / 0.7 / 1.1 / -0.3
PH (cm) / 186 / 202 / 224 / 164
SD (mm) / 25.3 / 23.6 / 25.3 / 23.5
GYP (g) / 159 / 97 / 139 / 118
KW (mg) / 252 / 241 / 255 / 238
KP (no.) / 536 / 404 / 492 / 447
EP (no.) / 1.52 / 0.95 / 1.17 / 1.30
KE (no.) / 353 / 420 / 422 / 352

a comparison between mean values highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) for all traits except JV (not significant).

b comparison between mean values highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) for all traits.

Supplementary Table S5 Mean values across three environments and two plant densities of the six families of NIL BB and HH crossed to the two related testers and evaluated in Experiment 2

Trait / BB × B73 / BB × H99 / HH × B73 / HH × H99 / Mean
3.05_R08
JV (cm) / 133 / 127 / 143 / 124 / 132
PS (d) / 63.3 / 59.0 / 63.7 / 59.5 / 61.4
ASI (d) / 0.1 / -0.9 / 0.2 / -0.7 / -0.3
PH (cm) / 226 / 167 / 230 / 166 / 197
SD (mm) / 24.5 / 22.8 / 26.3 / 24.3 / 24.5
GYP (g) / 151 / 135 / 164 / 129 / 144
KW (mg) / 263 / 232 / 265 / 220 / 245
KP (no.) / 515 / 530 / 557 / 528 / 533
EP (no.) / 1.34 / 1.48 / 1.37 / 1.50 / 1.42
KE (no.) / 397 / 370 / 414 / 362 / 386
3.05_R40
JV (cm) / 131 / 111 / 127 / 109 / 120
PS (d) / 62.6 / 60.6 / 63.0 / 60.8 / 61.8
ASI (d) / 1.0 / -1.1 / 1.4 / -0.1 / 0.3
PH (cm) / 221 / 158 / 225 / 156 / 190
SD (mm) / 24.8 / 23.4 / 26.6 / 25.6 / 25.1
GYP (g) / 144 / 121 / 158 / 119 / 135
KW (mg) / 242 / 226 / 254 / 229 / 238
KP (no.) / 528 / 479 / 560 / 464 / 508
EP (no.) / 1.23 / 1.39 / 1.23 / 1.43 / 1.32
KE (no.) / 436 / 353 / 457 / 333 / 395
4.10_R40
JV (cm) / 139 / 123 / 137 / 116 / 129
PS (d) / 63.9 / 60.0 / 61.8 / 59.9 / 61.4
ASI (d) / 1.1 / -0.5 / 0.9 / -0.9 / 0.2
PH (cm) / 213 / 158 / 213 / 151 / 184
SD (mm) / 24.7 / 22.8 / 26.5 / 24.4 / 24.6
GYP (g) / 134 / 139 / 143 / 114 / 133
KW (mg) / 239 / 223 / 257 / 244 / 241
KP (no.) / 510 / 558 / 501 / 420 / 497
EP (no.) / 1.11 / 1.38 / 1.17 / 1.26 / 1.23
KE (no.) / 456 / 415 / 427 / 340 / 410
4.10_R55
JV (cm) / 136 / 124 / 140 / 120 / 130
PS (d) / 61.9 / 58.4 / 61.4 / 59.6 / 60.4
ASI (d) / 0.4 / -0.4 / 0.5 / -0.7 / -0.1
PH (cm) / 235 / 150 / 228 / 141 / 189
SD (mm) / 22.7 / 20.7 / 24.4 / 22.8 / 22.7
GYP (g) / 144 / 104 / 143 / 90 / 120
KW (mg) / 236 / 206 / 236 / 198 / 219
KP (no.) / 547 / 456 / 544 / 409 / 489
EP (no.) / 1.15 / 1.29 / 1.21 / 1.26 / 1.23
KE (no.) / 476 / 362 / 453 / 331 / 406
7.03_R35
JV (cm) / 149 / 131 / 147 / 129 / 139
PS (d) / 64.3 / 59.2 / 63.9 / 59.3 / 61.7
ASI (d) / 2.0 / 1.5 / 2.0 / 0.9 / 1.6
PH (cm) / 251 / 200 / 245 / 189 / 221
SD (mm) / 23.2 / 22.6 / 26.1 / 24.9 / 24.2
GYP (g) / 152 / 160 / 146 / 146 / 151
KW (mg) / 273 / 301 / 260 / 289 / 281
KP (no.) / 503 / 476 / 505 / 454 / 485
EP (no.) / 1.09 / 1.15 / 1.07 / 1.15 / 1.12
KE (no.) / 461 / 418 / 474 / 397 / 438
10.03_R63
JV (cm) / 113 / 118 / 123 / 104 / 115
PS (d) / 65.9 / 61.3 / 64.7 / 62.2 / 63.5
ASI (d) / 2.4 / -0.1 / 1.0 / 0.0 / 0.8
PH (cm) / 205 / 159 / 207 / 159 / 183
SD (mm) / 25.6 / 23.7 / 27.4 / 25.0 / 25.4
GYP (g) / 72 / 99 / 97 / 80 / 87
KW (mg) / 266 / 255 / 262 / 240 / 256
KP (no.) / 236 / 353 / 329 / 311 / 307
EP (no.) / 0.84 / 1.29 / 0.99 / 1.25 / 1.09
KE (no.) / 288 / 283 / 332 / 250 / 288

LSD (P ≤ 0.05) for comparing mean values within the same row: 5 cm (JV); 0.8 d (PS); 0.7 d (ASI); 4 cm (PH); 0.8 mm (SD); 8 g (GYP); 7 mg (KW); 30 no. (KP); 0.07 no. (EP); 24 no. (KE)

Supplementary Table S6 Mean values across three environments of the six families of NIL BB and HH crossed to the four unrelated testers and evaluated in Experiment 3

Trait / BB × A632 / BB × Lo1016 / BB × Mo17 / BB × Va26 / Mean
3.05_R08
JV (cm) / 116 / 113 / 108 / 120 / 114
PS (d) / 59.0 / 59.8 / 59.5 / 58.8 / 59.3
ASI (d) / 0.7 / 1.3 / 0.0 / -0.2 / 0.5
PH (cm) / 240 / 257 / 236 / 249 / 245
GYP (g) / 167 / 209 / 188 / 164 / 182
KW (mg) / 320 / 305 / 331 / 315 / 318
KP (no.) / 525 / 685 / 586 / 522 / 580
EP (no.) / 1.19 / 1.38 / 1.05 / 1.14 / 1.19
KE (no.) / 446 / 502 / 560 / 458 / 492
3.05_R40
JV (cm) / 117 / 110 / 117 / 115 / 115
PS (d) / 60.0 / 61.8 / 60.8 / 59.7 / 60.6
ASI (d) / 0.8 / 0.0 / 0.8 / 0.3 / 0.5
PH (cm) / 238 / 251 / 240 / 231 / 240
GYP (g) / 130 / 138 / 171 / 139 / 144
KW (mg) / 282 / 269 / 342 / 283 / 294
KP (no.) / 462 / 507 / 504 / 492 / 491
EP (no.) / 1.07 / 1.00 / 1.00 / 1.07 / 1.03
KE (no.) / 432 / 508 / 505 / 461 / 477
4.10_R40
JV (cm) / 106 / 103 / 109 / 110 / 107
PS (d) / 61.3 / 62.3 / 61.3 / 59.3 / 61.1
ASI (d) / 0.3 / 0.7 / -0.3 / 0.2 / 0.2
PH (cm) / 234 / 244 / 234 / 229 / 236
GYP (g) / 145 / 162 / 162 / 147 / 154
KW (mg) / 263 / 266 / 313 / 269 / 278
KP (no.) / 552 / 612 / 520 / 547 / 558
EP (no.) / 1.02 / 1.03 / 0.97 / 1.01 / 1.01
KE (no.) / 540 / 594 / 537 / 542 / 553
4.10_R55
JV (cm) / 105 / 99 / 111 / 107 / 106
PS (d) / 58.5 / 60.0 / 59.7 / 58.8 / 59.3
ASI (d) / 0.0 / 0.0 / 0.2 / 0.0 / 0.0
PH (cm) / 230 / 241 / 229 / 233 / 233
GYP (g) / 147 / 175 / 157 / 142 / 155
KW (mg) / 268 / 258 / 307 / 284 / 280
KP (no.) / 549 / 681 / 511 / 498 / 560
EP (no.) / 1.10 / 1.13 / 0.97 / 1.04 / 1.06
KE (no.) / 498 / 606 / 531 / 480 / 529
7.03_R35
JV (cm) / 112 / 111 / 113 / 117 / 113
PS (d) / 60.0 / 61.8 / 61.0 / 59.8 / 60.7
ASI (d) / 0.7 / 0.8 / 0.2 / -0.5 / 0.3
PH (cm) / 264 / 286 / 267 / 262 / 270
GYP (g) / 178 / 215 / 173 / 145 / 177
KW (mg) / 306 / 306 / 354 / 329 / 324
KP (no.) / 580 / 702 / 490 / 439 / 553
EP (no.) / 1.27 / 1.08 / 0.95 / 0.99 / 1.07
KE (no.) / 460 / 652 / 518 / 445 / 519
10.03_R63
JV (cm) / 101 / 102 / 97 / 111 / 103
PS (d) / 61.8 / 63.0 / 62.3 / 60.8 / 62.0
ASI (d) / 0.3 / -0.2 / 0.0 / -0.8 / -0.2
PH (cm) / 232 / 259 / 234 / 232 / 239
GYP (g) / 108 / 160 / 138 / 111 / 129
KW (mg) / 336 / 343 / 357 / 316 / 338
KP (no.) / 319 / 463 / 392 / 353 / 382
EP (no.) / 0.96 / 0.97 / 1.01 / 1.03 / 0.99
KE (no.) / 332 / 477 / 392 / 341 / 386
Trait / HH × A632 / HH × Lo1016 / HH × Mo17 / HH × Va26 / Mean
3.05_R08
JV (cm) / 116 / 111 / 110 / 107 / 111
PS (d) / 58.7 / 61.0 / 59.2 / 58.8 / 59.4
ASI (d) / 1.0 / 1.3 / -0.2 / 0.2 / 0.6
PH (cm) / 241 / 259 / 238 / 261 / 250
GYP (g) / 170 / 211 / 184 / 159 / 181
KW (mg) / 297 / 283 / 345 / 307 / 308
KP (no.) / 571 / 746 / 533 / 522 / 593
EP (no.) / 1.26 / 1.42 / 1.16 / 1.14 / 1.24
KE (no.) / 454 / 531 / 462 / 459 / 477
3.05_R40
JV (cm) / 119 / 105 / 112 / 109 / 111
PS (d) / 60.3 / 61.5 / 60.5 / 59.8 / 60.5
ASI (d) / 2.3 / 1.5 / 0.7 / -0.2 / 1.1
PH (cm) / 235 / 249 / 237 / 226 / 237
GYP (g) / 142 / 166 / 167 / 140 / 154
KW (mg) / 296 / 281 / 338 / 300 / 304
KP (no.) / 482 / 588 / 494 / 468 / 508
EP (no.) / 1.06 / 1.00 / 0.95 / 1.05 / 1.01
KE (no.) / 456 / 591 / 525 / 447 / 505
4.10_R40
JV (cm) / 115 / 105 / 111 / 113 / 111
PS (d) / 59.3 / 62.0 / 59.2 / 59.0 / 59.9
ASI (d) / 1.0 / 0.7 / 0.2 / -0.2 / 0.4
PH (cm) / 231 / 242 / 228 / 232 / 233
GYP (g) / 148 / 157 / 161 / 130 / 149
KW (mg) / 299 / 284 / 354 / 294 / 308
KP (no.) / 500 / 555 / 455 / 445 / 489
EP (no.) / 1.06 / 1.02 / 1.00 / 0.99 / 1.02
KE (no.) / 469 / 545 / 456 / 447 / 479
4.10_R55
JV (cm) / 108 / 105 / 93 / 108 / 103
PS (d) / 58.8 / 60.2 / 59.3 / 59.2 / 59.4
ASI (d) / 0.5 / 0.8 / 0.2 / 0.0 / 0.4
PH (cm) / 236 / 241 / 229 / 229 / 234
GYP (g) / 151 / 166 / 175 / 139 / 158
KW (mg) / 257 / 261 / 299 / 266 / 271
KP (no.) / 585 / 631 / 580 / 524 / 580
EP (no.) / 1.09 / 1.07 / 1.08 / 1.06 / 1.08
KE (no.) / 535 / 587 / 538 / 495 / 539
7.03_R35
JV (cm) / 107 / 110 / 107 / 121 / 111
PS (d) / 60.2 / 62.0 / 60.3 / 59.5 / 60.5
ASI (d) / 0.8 / 1.0 / -0.2 / -0.3 / 0.3
PH (cm) / 257 / 278 / 237 / 247 / 255
GYP (g) / 172 / 206 / 144 / 130 / 163
KW (mg) / 304 / 308 / 347 / 335 / 324
KP (no.) / 566 / 671 / 415 / 391 / 511
EP (no.) / 1.30 / 1.11 / 0.92 / 0.96 / 1.07
KE (no.) / 437 / 607 / 449 / 407 / 475
10.03_R63
JV (cm) / 106 / 92 / 95 / 112 / 101
PS (d) / 61.3 / 63.8 / 62.5 / 60.5 / 62.0
ASI (d) / 1.0 / 0.2 / -0.2 / -0.2 / 0.2
PH (cm) / 243 / 258 / 229 / 233 / 241
GYP (g) / 133 / 145 / 134 / 109 / 130
KW (mg) / 332 / 330 / 346 / 322 / 332
KP (no.) / 399 / 438 / 389 / 340 / 392
EP (no.) / 1.01 / 0.94 / 0.93 / 0.97 / 0.96
KE (no.) / 395 / 469 / 418 / 353 / 409

LSD (P ≤ 0.05) for comparing mean values within the same row: 6 cm (JV); 1.4 d (PS); 1.2 d (ASI); 11 cm (PH); 19 g (GYP); 19 mg (KW); 64 no. (KP); 0.11 no. (EP); 48 no. (KE)

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