Assessing the Morphological Variability and Some Seed Quality Contributing Traits for Mid Altitude Maize Inbred Lines (<i>Zea Mays</i> L.) in Western Ethiopia, Bako

Abstract

Maize is one of the highly cross pollinated crop having two or more parents forming hybrid. Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) characterization of parental lines are crucial for sustained quality seed production and formation of new varieties. This Study was initiated to provide information on Phenological characters of fourteen inbred lines. These were: (BKL001, BKL002, BKL003, BKL004, CML161, CML165, CML395, CML204, CML536, CML444, CML202, CML312BK, 142-1-e, 124-b (109), sourced from Bako national Maize research. Most of them were originally introduced from CIMMYT Kenya and Nigeria, among these parents two (CML161 and CML165) are Quality protein maize while 12 of the inbred lines are conventional. DUS characterization was conducted as per as UPOV guidelines. The result revealed that, inbred lines were vary widely differ in their characters. Among the 14 inbred lines, CML161 and CML165 were distinct from other in their yellow kernel color and 142-1-e had the distinguishable character of tassel anthocyanin coloration at glumes base. Dendrograms were constructed based on the morphological characters that briefs differences among the individuals indicating reportable variation among the 14 maize inbred lines which would aid in selection of inbred lines with desirable characters for further seed DUS identification. Generally knowing the DUS character of these parents have significant value to develop a new hybrid for the feature in Maize breeding and help to register new hybrid will be formed and serve as guide lines for different seed producers.