CHARACTERIZATION OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) LANDRACES OF BANDARBAN IN KHARIF SEASON

Abstract

An experiment was carried out under field conditions to characterize 10 maize landraces during the period from March 2019 to July 2019 in Kharif season at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Planting materials of the landraces were collected from different location of Bandarban district. The landraces were characterized in terms of plant growth and yield parameters on morphological traits. High level of significance of variation was found among the landraces. Maximum time (67.67 days) for flowering was taken by V 10 and minimum time (53.67 days) was taken by V 1 . V 8 took highest time (128.67 days) and V 1 took lowest time (105 days) to be matured for harvesting. Tallest plant was found in V 10

(210.50 cm) and shortest plant was found in V 6 (160 cm). The maximum number of leaves per plant (18) were observed in V 8 and minimum number (13) were observed in V 1 . Longest leaf was noted in V 2 (95 cm) and shortest was in V 3 (67.5 cm). V 7 presented the maximum leaf width (7.75 cm) and V 1 presented the minimum (6 cm). Highest stem base circumference was found in V 6 (9.35 cm) whereas, lowest was found in V 1 (5.05 cm). The longest plant root length was in V 10 (24.5 cm) and shortest was in V 3 (17.5 cm). Root area circumference was maximum in V 9 (25 cm) and minimum in V 7 (14.5 cm). The highest tassel length (47.75 cm) was in V 9 and lowest (30 cm) was in V 1 . The maximum cob length (28.4 cm) was recorded from V 1 and V 3 was minimum (18.25 cm). The highest cob circumference (16.70 cm) was in V 4 whereas, the lowest (10 cm) was in V 10 . Grain color variation was displayed among the landraces as white, off white, red, pink, black, brown, purple, yellow and variegated color. Among the varieties, V 3

had the maximum grain rows cob -1 (16.17) whereas, V 6 had the minimum (10.75). V 1

exhibited the maximum number grains row -1 (26.70) and V 9 had the minimum (13.50). Highest number of grains per cob was counted at V 1 (335.17) and lowest number was at V 9 (164.31). Maximum stem dry weight per plant was in V 8 (80 g) and minimum was found in V 6 (49.75 g). Highest leaf dry weight per plant was found in V 8 (55 g) and lowest leaf dry weight per plant was in V 6 (24.5 g). The highest total grain weight per plant was attained in V 1 (62.55 g) whereas, the lowest was in V 6 (27 g). V 1 showed the maximum 100 grains weight (23.36 g) and V 6 showed the minimum (14.94 g). Among them, V 6 showed the maximum chaff weight (10.89 g) and V 10 (4.75 g) the minimum. The highest shell weight (17.13 g) was recorded from V 4 and the lowest shell weight (9.75 g) was from V 9 . V 1 showed the highest grain yield (3.10 t ha xiii -1 ) and V 6 showed the lowest grain yield (1.28 t ha -1 ). V 8 presented the highest stover yield (6.89 t ha ) and V 6 the lowest (4.40 t ha -1 ). Highest biological yield (8.92 t ha -1 ) was exhibited by V 4 and lowest biological yield (5.68 t ha -1 ) was exhibited by V 6 . Finally, V 1 showed the maximum harvest index (40.72%) and V 5 showed the minimum harvest index (19.28%).