ln this study, 12 maize populations were improved with the improved S1 selection method, aiming to increase the improvement efficiency of maize popula-tions. The results showed that number of rows per spike, number of grains per row and 100-grain weight were the three important component traits of maize yield. The highest genetic increment was found in Mengqun 2, fol owed by Mengqun 4, Mengqun 1 and other 7 maize populations. Negative genetic increment was shown in Mengqun 3 and 3 introduced foreign maize populations. Some changes were shown in spikes, plant traits and genetic diversity of maize populations. Based on our results, we concluded that Mengqun 2, Mengqun 4, Zhongzong 7, Mengqun C and Mengqun A could be directly used for the line breeding by selfing for their higher genetic increment of yield and better improvement effects of other agricultural traits. Compared with these 5 populations, the improvement potential of other maize populations was limited for their lower genetic increment.
