Genetic variability parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) mutant irradiated gamma-ray

Abstract

Mutation induction often used to increase genetic variability in plant breeding for further proceed. Thirty inbred lines of maize mutants (M1) of were evaluated in a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications for morphology and agronomy of genetic variability parameters. Data were collected on days to anthesis and silking, anthesis-silking interval (ASI), plant height, leaves number, days to maturity, ear number, grain yield, grains number, weight of 100-grain. Mean values were used to determine characters’ phenotypic and genotypic variances, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental coefficients of variation. Moderate heritability estimates were observed for most traits. Otherwise based on genotypic coefficient of variance, for most traits had low genetic variability but generally high genetic variability was observed for most traits based on standard deviation of genotypic variance. Grain yield as important trait had moderate genetic variability based on heritability estimates, high based on genotypic coefficient of variance and standard deviation of genotypic variance. Hence provides better opportunities for selecting plant material regarding these traits.