Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Dinesh Kumar Thakur, SK Sinha, Nandan Mehta and Nirmodh Prabha

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to get information about genetic variability and genetic parameters in 56 maize genotypes (including 40 hybrids, 13 parents and 3 checks). Analysis of variance worked out for grain yield and its contributing traits, and results revealed that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all the traits viz., Plant population (thousand/ha), 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to 80% brown husk maturity, ear height (cm), plant height (cm), no. of ears (thousand/ha), 100 grain weight (g), ear length (cm), ear girth (cm), no. of kernel rows /ear, no. of kernels/row, shelling percentage and grain yield (q/ha) under studied. Among the different grain yield attributing traits, grain yield (q/ha) had the highest magnitude of PCV (27.2%) followed by 100 grain wt. (18.9%), no. of kernels/ row (16.2) and ear length (13.2%) whereas, the minimum PCV were recorded for day to 80% brown husk maturity (2.7%). The highest heritability was recorded for the character days to 80% brown husk maturity (91.5%) followed by days to 50% tasseling (86.0%), grain yield (q/ha) (85.9%), days to 50% silking (84.9%), shelling percentage (81.1%). The high genetic advance as percentage mean was recorded for grain yield (q/ha) (47.8%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was found in the traits grain yield (q/ha) (85.9%) (47.8%), 100 grain wt. (g.) (74.6%) (28.9%) and No. of kernels/row (71.6%) (23.9%).Significant mean squares due to grain yield and its contributing traits revealed existence of considerable variability present in the material studied for the improvement of various traits. This indicated better chances of improvement of these traits through selection.