TITLE:
Genetic Variability and Path Analysis Studies in Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.)
AUTHORS:
Mohammad Quamrul Islam Matin, Md. Shalim Uddin, Md. Motiar Rohman, Mohammad Amiruzzaman, Abul Kalam Azad, Bhagya Rani Banik
KEYWORDS:
Genetic Variability, Path Co-Efficient, Hybrid Maize
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.12,
November
22,
2017
ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out to access
correlation coefficient, path analysis and genetic variability among twenty one
locally developed maize hybrids for ten characters. Positive and significant
genotypic, phenotypic correlation coefficient were recorded for yield with
anthesis silking interval (rg = 1.00**, rp = 0.96**), cob
diameter (rg = 0.99** and rp = 0.95**) and ear height (rg = 0.98** and rp = 0.94**). But days to 50% tasseling had moderate
but significant positive correlation at both phenotypic and genotypic level. High
genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was obtained from thousand seed
weight, days to 50% silking, cob diameter and anthesis silking interval. The
highest phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed in thousand seed
weight followed by days to 50% silking and cob diameter. The highest
heritability (Hb) was observed for cob diameter (95.25) followed by days to 50%
silking (94.15), days to maturity (93.85) and ear height (93.06). The
characters with high GCV and higher values of heritability indicated high
potential for selection. Anthesis silking interval (0.79) had the highest
positive direct effect on yield followed by cob diameter (0.31), cob length
(0.31) and plant height (0.04) indicating the effectiveness of direct
selection. While some other characters such as days to 50% tasseling (-0.12),
days to 50% silking (-1.78), ear height (-1.16), days to maturity (-0.64)
exhibited indirect negative effect on yield indicating the effectiveness of
indirect selection.