Abstract:
The experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka to determine the mean performance, genetic variability, correlation and
path coefficient of nine F
populations of white maize. Significant variations
were observed among the different genotypes of nine F
2
populations for all the
traits studied. The F
2
ii
2
populations of KS 510 showed the maximum mean
performance in plant height (218.61 cm), days to maturity (135 DAS) and yield
per plant (83.85 g), while the populations of Yungnuo 7 showed the minimum
mean performance in plant height (120.94 cm), days to maturity (106 DAS)
and yield per plant (43.42 g). In analysis of different genetic parameters, the
highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of
variation (PCV) values were observed for cob height (19.64, 21.58), number of
branches of tassel (20.12, 25.41), leaf blade area (17.3, 20.87) and yield per
plant (18.25, 22.98). High heritability coupled with high genetic advances in
percent mean were obtained for plant height, cob height, number of branches
per tassel, number of cob bearing node, leaf blade area and grain yield per
plant. The correlation studies revealed that significant positive relation of yield
per plant with plant height, days to maturity, number of leaves per plant, cob
length, cob breadth and number of grains per row at both genotypic and
phenotypic levels. The path coefficient analysis showed positive direct effect
towards yield contributed through days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking,
cob height, days to maturity, number of branches of tassel, cob breadth and
number of grains per row. Thus the results suggested that direct selection on
the basis of plant height, days to maturity, cob height, number of leaves per
plant, cob length, number of row per cob and number of grains per row could
be reliable for yield improvement in white maize. Moreover, considering the
mean performance, the populations of KS 510 for grain yield per plant, the
populations of Yungnuo 7 for early maturity, dwarf type, cob height and
populations of PSC 121 for bold grains, highest number of rows per cob, cob
breadth and leaf blade area would be selected for advancing these population
through selfing for developing of potential inbred lines for varietal
development of white maize.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING
