The Performance , Variance Components and Heritability of Inbreed Maize Under Sufficient and Insufficient Nitrogen

Abstract

In order to know the performance and components of inbred lines variance of maize under the effect of nitrogen fertilizers, a field experiment was carried out during the two seasons of 2014 in Maize researches station-General authority for agricultural researches in Abu-Ghriab. Eight inbred lines of maize were used (UMGW16, UMGW4, DAQ, HNG9, DL.A3, DL.B3, ART-B46 and ART-B21). The inbred lines were treated with two levels of nitrogen (175 and 350 Kg N. ha-1). Factorial arrangement was used in RCBD with three replicates. Many agronomic traits were studied from performance and variations and the values were counted for genetic and environmental variances as well as genetic and phenotypic covariance and heritability in broad sense. The behavior of the inbred lines was different in terms of performance. HNG9 and ART-B46 were superior in most agronomic traits that correlated with yield which in turn has been positively reflected in giving highest yield 158.6 and 158.4 gm. plant-1 for the two inbred lines respectively. The two inbred lines took lowest number of days (62 and 62.67) respectively. UMGW16 was superior by giving highest leaf area 0.524 m2 and HNG9 gave highest grain weight 81.51 gm and plant yield. ART-B46 gave highest number of grains per plant (665.2) and plant yield. The apparent difference between the two inbred lines in terms of yield components would help in producing a hybrid with high yield in the future, and make comparison with the line’s performance. The increase of Nitrogen from 175 to 350 Kg N. ha-1 has led to significant increase in all traits under this study. It gave lowest averages of number of days to the flowering, highest average of plant leaf area, cob length, and number of rows in cob, number of grains, weight of grain and individual plant yield. The genetic variance was higher than environmental variance for all traits and that has been reflected to heritability ratio which was high in all traits and the highest average was obtained in number of rows (83.70) expect length of cob which the ratio was average (57.21). We concluded that most traits especially components of yield can be affected by genetic factors therefore we recommend to use number of grains and weight of grain in assessing the ability of productivity of maize.