Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in shrunken-2 super-sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) populations

Abstract

Inbred line development requires information on the nature and magnitude of genetic variability and transmissibility of desired trait in source populations. In this study, the level of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of thirteen agronomic and fresh yield traits among twelve shrunken-2 super-sweet corn populations were evaluated. Field experiments were conducted for two years in Ibadan, Nigeria using a randomised complete block design with three replicates. Estimates of genetic variability components, broad-sense heritability and genetic advance were computed for each trait. All the traits exhibited significant genotypic differences. Genotypic variance was significant for number of marketable cobs, yield of cobs, number of cobs, number of kernel rows, husk cover, ear height and days to anthesis, while environmental variance was significant for all the traits. Phenotypic coefficients of variation were higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficients of variation for all traits. Broadsense heritability ranged from 22.2% for anthesis-silking interval to 85.1% for husk cover. The genetic advance was high (32.7%) for husk cover, medium (12.0%) for yield of cobs and low for other traits. Genetic variability was present among the shrunken-2 super-sweet corn populations. Opportunities abound for further improvement of the populations and extraction of lines for hybrid seed production.

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for growth, yield and yield related traits in maize genotypes

“…Meena et al (2016), Raut et al (2017) obtained low GAM on days to fifty percent tasseling and days to fifty percent silking. Abe and Adelegan (2019) obtained low GAM on plant height, cob length, cob diameter and ASI.…”

“…Moderate heritability integrated with low GAM was observed on plant height and cob diameter (Table 3). Sesay et al (2016), Abe and Adelegan (2019) obtained moderate heritability coupled with low GAM on plant height. It means there is the control of the non-additive gene actions for those traits and provides limited opportunity to improve traits by selection.…”

“…Cob length, anthesis silking interval and thousand kernel weight recorded low heritability combined with low GAM (Table 3) which means there is control of the non-additive gene actions and provides limited opportunity to improve traits by selection. Abe and Adelegan (2019) obtained low heritability coupled with low GAM on anthesis silking interval.…”

“…The low heritability of these traits means the expression of these traits is more affected by the environment (Islam et al, 2015). Abe and Adelegan (2019) obtained low heritability on anthesis silking interval. Beyene et al (2005) obtained low heritability on thousand kernels weight.…”

Comparison of Genetic Parameters among Selfed Lines and Random Mated Population A (PDM 53 x PDM 4441) and Population B (HKI 1105 x HKI 323) and Identification of Transgressive Segregants

“…GCV and PCV (<10 percent) were shown to be lower for days to 50 percent silking, ear length, and ear diameter. Vaghela et al [8], Chauhan and Mohan [9], Manigopa and Rameshwar [10], and Ayodeji and Comfort [11] all found similar results for these traits. GCV and PCV were found to be moderate (10-20%) for number of cobs per plant, cob weight with husk, and cob weight without husk.…”