STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EXOTIC MAIZE HYBRIDS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, at the experimental plot of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding during the Kharif season of 2008 to study on the hybrid performance of different maize hybrids. A larger variation in plant characters and yield performance among the hybrids was noticed. The hybrids MH7 and MHz. produced maximum grain yield per plant (187.2 g ) which was identical with MH; and MHz, ( 186.7 and 186.2 g respectively) while MHz; was the minimum in this respect having minimum grain yield per plant (129.2 g) and was also identical with the Check (MH39 and MHyo). Phenotypic variance against yield per plant (371.79) was higher than the genotypic variance (172.94). This indicated the existence of much influence of environment on the expressivity of the character. This character showed moderate genotypic (8.43) as well as phenotypic (12.35) co-efficient of variation associated with low heritability (46.52 %). The range of standard heterosis over the check variety was -1.657 to 21.55 percent for the hybrids MH37 and MHs3po, respectively. In case of grain yield per plant, significant positive heterosis was desirable and the hybrids MHs, MH7, MHis, MHic6, MHi7, MHis. MHi9, MH2. and MH» showed significantly positive heterosis over the check variety. Apparently positive heterosis.on grain yield per plant was desirable and 8 hybrids showed significant and positive result. The highest positive heterosis was obtained in the hybrid MH7and was scored |.