Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
PN Jagadev, P Kanungo and D Lenka

Abstract:
Fifty inbreds of quality protein maize were grown at the EB-II section of OUAT, Bhubaneswar during rabi season in a randomized block design with two replications for heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path coefficient studies in 15 quantitative characters. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the inbreds for all the characters under study indicating existence of wide genetic variations. Coefficients of variation at genotypic and phenotypic levels and heritability (broad sense) with expected genetic advance (as per cent of mean) were high for ear height, number of kernels, 100-kernel weight and grain yield indicating selection for these characters would be more reliable. In the present study, all the component traits except days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to 75% dry husk and shelling % exhibited significant positive association with grain yield at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The characters like leaf length, leaf breadth, plant height, ear height, ear size, number of kernels and 100-kernel weight exhibited significantly strong positive association with grain yield. Analysis of path coefficients indicated that the highest direct contribution to grain yield was manifested by 100-kernel weight at genotypic level and by number of kernels per ear at phenotypic level. The high direct contribution to grain yield was also manifested by number of kernels per row, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels/ear, days to 50% tasseling and days to 75% dry husk at genotypic level and by 100-kernel weight, days to 50% tasseling and days to 75% dry husk at phenotypic level. Hence, the studies revealed the importance of number of kernels and 100-kernel weight as selection criteria for improvement of grain yield in quality protein maize.