Abstract:
The experiment was held in the experimental area of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural
University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka during January to May 2015 to study the
genetic diversity, correlation and path co-efficient analysis for yield and yield
contributing characters of maize. For the accomplishment of the experiment 37 maize
genotypes were used as experimental materials that was basically laid out in
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Mean
performance, variability, correlation matrix and path analysis on different yield
contributing characters and yield of maize genotypes were calculated. The maximum
grain yield/plant (163.84 g) was recorded in the genotype of DEKALB-9120, whereas
the minimum grain yield/plant (60.00 g) was from the genotype of BHM-7. In fact,
phenotypic co-efficient of variation was higher than the genotypic co-efficient of
variation for all the yield contributing traits. In correlation study, significant positive
association was recorded for grain yield/plant of maize genotypes with cob length
(0.502), cob breadth(0.196),row per cob(0.524), seed per row(0.882), seed per
cob(0.986), cob weight(0.642) and 100-seed weight(0.994). Path analysis revealed
that leaf per plant (0.74) had positive direct effect, leaf length (0.23) had positive
direct effect, cob length (0.39) had positive direct effect, cob breadth (0.13) had
positive direct effect and seed per cob (2.26) had positive direct effect on yield/plant.
Plant height (-0.12), diameter of leaf (-0.81), row per cob (-0.73), seed per row (0.06),
cob weight (-0.57) and 100-seed weight (-0.77) had negative direct effect on
grain yield. Clustering pattern denoted that, cluster V was the largest cluster
comprising of 13 genotypes and cluster II and III belonged to three genotypes of
maize. The maximum inter-cluster divergence was observed between cluster I and II
(14.57) followed by cluster I and IV (13.09).Considering diversity pattern, genetic
status and other agronomic performance Khaivutta, PAC-984 and DEKALB super
gold from cluster V; BARI Mishty-1 and DEKALB-962 from cluster VI; Pacific-984,
BM-5 and HP-222 from cluster II and III might be considered better parents for
efficient hybridization program.
Description:
A Thesis
submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING
SEMESTER: JULY – DECEMBER, 2015
