A study of prolificacy through mass selection in maize for Northern-Western Himalayas

Govind S Bisht, VP Mani

Vivekanand Institute of Hill Agriculture, (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Almora, Uttrakhand

Received: 15 September 2016                          Revised Accepted: 17 November 2016

ABSTRACT

Results of five  generations of selection for improved productivity in corn by selecting for prolificacy, a correlated trait, are reported. The regression for gain in yield per cycle of selection relative to the cross between N3 x J1. Full-sib and half-sib families, developed in the population using NCD1, were evaluated at experimental fields of Vivekananda Institute of Hill Agriculture Almora (1250 m amsl) using normal and high plant densities. Parental variety compares favorably with a previously reported gain from mass selection in the same variety using weight of grain per plant as the selection trait. The greater effectiveness of selection where prolificacy was the primary trait is believed due to higher selection intensity used as well as higher heritability. The results revealed that additive componants were significant for ears per plant (Prolificacy), ear diameter, 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.

Key Words: Maize, Prolificacy, Selection genetic variance