GENETIC VARIABILITY, CORRELATION AND PATH ANALYSIS IN F2 POPULATION OF WHITE MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

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.