GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.) INBRED LINES

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the experimental field of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, during, the period from November, 2016 to April, 2017 with 30 maize genotypes. To study on genotypic and phenotypic variances, genotypic and phenotypic co-efficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance, simple correlations and path analysis were studied for grain yield and other ten morpho-physiological characters among the genotypes of maize. The genotypes differed significantly for all traits studied. Highest genotypic co-efficient of variation was observed for number of kernel rows per cob(0.26),cob diameter (0.26),plant height(0.25), number of kernel rows (0.21). In broad sense heritability (percentage) exhibited high for the following characters viz- yield per plant(74.43),1000-kernelweight(68.83),pith weight(97.42),Cob height(90.96), cob diameter(72.49),plant height (66.15),cob length(65.83). The heritability valves were moderate for the following characters viz- number of kernel per rows (47.12), number of kernels per cob (46.03) and number of kernel rows per cob (30.84).Genetic advance in percentage of mean was high for yield per plant (48.77), pith weight(65.25) plant height (47.91),Cob height (39.30),1000-kernel weight(33.51), Genetic advance in percentage of mean was moderate for number of kernels per cob (20.70) and number of kernel rows (20.29). Genetic advance in percentage of mean were low for cob length (1.92),number of kernel rows per cob(7.73) and cob diameter(13.89).While low for the remaining traits.Cob length was showed significant positive correlation with number of kernel per row (r=0.661**). Grain yield per plant was showed significant positive correlation with plant height (r=0.718**). While cob length (r = 0.587**),number of kernel per row(r=0.501**),number of kernels per cob(r=0.422**) and 1000-grain weight (r= 0.612**) showed positive and insignificant association with yield per plant(0.718). Yield per plant showed negative and insignificant association with cob length to number of kernel rows per cob(r=-0.0414) and number of kernel rows per cob plant height(r=- 0.008) to Cob height(r=-0.092). Highest and positive direct effect on kernel yield per plant was exhibited by 1000-kernel weight (0.519).In considering yield contributing characters and yield, IL-28, performed better followed by IL-9, IL-15, IL-10, IL-29 and IL-26.