Assessment of Genetic Variability for Yield Contributing Traits in Maize

Abstract

In the current study, eighteen maize parents were crossed in a line x tester to measure genetic variability and selection criteria in the yield of grains and associated features throughout the period of Rabi (2020-2021). Additionally, eighteen F1, S, and F2 parents were evaluated. at C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Major variations were found for every attribute in the parents' analyses of variance, indicating the genetic diversity within the maize genotypes. For cob diameter (17.31 and 62.93%) and length of cob (1.8 and 63.93 cent), the moderate PCV and GCV were noted. 8.9%) in the F1 generation. For cob dimension (18.9 and 67.42 percent) and cob length (2.69 and 13.43 cent), the F2 generation showed both a moderate PCV and GCV. For cob diameter, high heritability estimates were noted in both generation. Days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, days to 75% dry husk, plant height at 50 days after sowing (cm), cob length (cm), the number of cobs per plant, and the number of grain per cob were found to have moderate heritability estimated in both the generation. These results are consistent, suggesting that the non-fixable genetic influence plays a larger role. For days to days to 75% dry husk and plant height at 50 days after sowing (cm), moderate heritability with moderate genetic progress was identified in both generations.