MANISH KUMAR CHOUDHARY, GAYATRI KUMAWAT*, JAI PRAKASH SHAHI, MUNNESH KUMAR, ASHOK SINGHAMSETTI AND GANESH KUMAR KOLI
Genetics and Plant Breeding Department,
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, (U. P.), India
*(e-mail : kumawatgayatri10@gmail.com)
(Received: 20 December 2021; Accepted: 15 February 2022)
SUMMARY
The screening for water stress of seventy CIMMYT maize genotypes was carried out to estimate the genetic variability parameters, heritability, GAM, correlation and path coefficient analysis at Agriculture Research Farm, Institute of Agriculture Science, BHU, Varanasi. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for surface root, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, ear height, number of plants per plot, number of ears per plot, ear length and number of kernels per row. Moderate to higher GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and high GAM observed for surface root, ear height, number of plants per plot, number of ears per plot, field weight and yield per plant suggested that simple selection can be effective for these traits. Correlation analysis indicated that yield per plant exhibited highest and positive significant correlation with field weight, number of ears per plot, ear diameter, number of kernels per row, ear length, 100-seed weight, number of plants per plot and number of kernel rows per ear. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the highest positive direct effects on yield per plant were exhibited by 100-seed weight followed by field weight, number of kernels per row, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, days to 50% silking, number of ears per plot, number of kernel rows per ear and number of plants per plot. If the selection for water logging tolerant genotype is made for any of these component traits, the improvement in yield per plant could be achieved.
Key words: Maize, genetic variability parameters, correlation, path analysis and water stress