Abstract
Detailed information on the genetic diversity between maize germplasm (Zea mays L.) is useful for their systematic and efficient use in breeding programs. Fourteen early maize genotypes were studied to assess their performance and genotypic diversity at Doti, Nepal in 2015. Days to tasseling, days to silking, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter and grain yield were significant among genotypes. Genotype SO3TEY-PO-BM, COMPOL-NIOBP and ACROSS-99402 were found higher yielder with earlier maturity. Days to tasseling (0.85), days to silking (0.82), plant height (0.79), ear length (0.71) and ear diameter (0.66) were found highly heritable traits. Grain yield (0.39) and ear height (0.47) medium and remaining traits showed low heritability. High PCV was observed for grain yield (35.10%), number of plants/plot (34.46%), tesseling silking interval (26.85%), harvested ears/plot (24.45%) and husk cover rating (22.85%) where other traits showed medium to low PCV. Grain yield showed high GCV (21.96%), ear height and husk cover had medium and remaining traits showed low GCV (<10%). Plant height (r₌0.498), harvested plants/plot (r₌0.412), harvested ear/plot (r₌0.762), ear length (r₌0.472) and ear diameter (r₌0.470) showed significant positive correlation with grain yield. The yield can be improved if selection applied in favor of those yield components.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is second important crop after rice in Nepal
Existence of significant genetic variability among maize genotypes for yield and major yield attributing traits were reported by Vashistha et al (2013), Ogunniyan and Olakojo (2014), Pahadi and Sapkota (2016), Bhusal et al (2017), Kandel et al (2018) and Sharma et al, (2018)
High Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for grain yield, number of plants/plot, tesseling silking interval, harvested ears/plot and husk cover rating where as remaining traits showed medium to low PCV
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is second important crop after rice in Nepal. It is cultivated in 891583 ha with 2503 kg/ha national productivity (MOAD, 2017). The majority of the maize area lies in the mid hills across the country where it is the first principal staple food and feed crop and produce about 70% of national maize production. Maize can be considered as source of livelihood for hilly farmers. It is a traditional crop cultivated on slopping upland terraces (bariland) in the hills under rainfed condition during the summer on which fingermillet is relayed in majority, sole maize was dominantly followed by wheat. Areas of western Nepal is mostly food deficit, drought prone areas where annual
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