Genetic variance and heritability of some ear traits in prolific maize (Zea mays L)
VP Mani1, NP Gupta2, GS Bisht1, Rajesh Singh3
1Division of Crop Improvement, VPKAS, Almora-263601, Uttrakhand, India
2DMR, Cummings Laboratory, IARI, New Delhi 110 012
3Genetics and Plant Breeding, IAS, BHU, Varanasi-221005
Received: 26 March 2012 Revised Accepted: 28 April 2012
ABSTRACT
Full-sib and half-sib families of one generation advanced population of a cross between N3 x J1 were developed in the population using NCD1 and were evaluated at experimental fields of Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora (1250 m amsl) using normal and high plant densities. The results revealed that additive composite were significant for ears per plant (Prolificacy), ear diameter, and kernel rows per ear, 100 kernel weight, ear grain weight and total grain yield. Heritability and expected genetic gains were highest for ear grain weight followed by total grain yield and ears per plant. The results also revealed 2 to 4 time’s superior effect of a cycle of full-sib selection over mass selection.
Key Words: Genetic Variance, Heritability, Maize, Mass selection, Prolificacy