Tassel Size Estimation Set: Creation and Evaluation.

The purpose of this experiment was to create and validate an estimation set of tassel size in maize. An estimation set is a data source used to make predictions on a different set of material. Using an estimation set greatly reduces the need to grow out every possible inbred and allows researchers to determine a plant’s capacity to perform well as a male. Additional benefits include being cost, time and space effective in production fields and allowing researchers to efficiently select germplasm to advance.