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Assessment of genetic variability of maize inbred lines and their hybrids under normal and drought conditions
Abstract
Fifty-six maize genotypes were evaluated at Kadawa Irrigation Research Sub-station (11°39'N, 080027`E) of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria during 2012/13 dry season to estimate genetic variability of grain yield and its component characters. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for most of the characters under study which indicates the presence of sufficient amount of variability offering ample scope for improving the population for these characters. The ranges of mean values revealed sufficient variation for all the traits under study. The magnitude of phenotypic variances and phenotypic coefficients of variation were slightly higher than the corresponding genotypic variances and genotypic coefficients of variation for all the characters under study. Grain yields under both conditions, leaf senescence under intermediate stress and severe stress, ear height under severe stress and number of ears per plant under intermediate stress had higher amount of exploitable genetic variability among the attributes. These traits may be used as an effective selection criterion to improve yield potential of maize genotypes under non-stress and water stress conditions.
Keywords: Drought, Inbred lines, Genetic Gain, Grain Yield and Maize
