Genetic Variation and Relationship among Grain Yield and Yield Component Traits for Simultaneous Selection in Dry and Green Maize

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 to evaluate maize with the objective of determining genetic variation and relationship among yield and yield component traits for simultaneous selection in dry and green maize. Phenotypic variance was mainly accounted for by the genetic component. Heritability was high for flowering, height and ear traits and grain yield. All the traits were positively correlated with grain yield, with the ear traits of kernel rows/cob and kernels/row on cob contributing most to grain yield. The high heritability coupled with the highest genetic advance observed for kernels per row on cob, kernel rows/cob and grain yield at 20% selection intensity indicates that concentrating on these three traits in selection programme will achieve a fast progress in selection. Thus grain yield could be simultaneously selected with kernels per row on cob and kernel rows/cob for improvement in dry and green maize production.