Diversity analysis of highland temperate maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines Khan Sania Ajaz1, Iqbal Asif M.1,*, Shikari A.B.1, Dar Z.A.2, Wani M.A1, Mahdi S.S.3, Waza S.4, Ahanger M.A.4, Bangroo S.5, Islam N.1 1Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura 2DARS, SKUAST-K, Budgam 3Division of Agronomy, FoA, SKUAST-K, Wadura 4MCRS, SKUAST-K, Sagam 5Division of Soil Science, SKUAST-K *e-mail: asifquresh@gmail.com
Online published on 2 April, 2024. Abstract The present study consisted of fifty maize inbreds which were evaluated for twelve quantitative traits. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications at MRCFC, Khudwani, SKUAST-Kduring kharief, 2020. The analysis of variance showed significant difference for all the characters. The higher estimates of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were revealed for anthesis-silking interval followed by no. of kernel rows cob-1. The PCV estimates were higher than GCV indicating that substantial variation for these characters was contributed by environmental components. The heritability estimates were found to be high for no. of kernels per row followed by days to maturity (50% husk browning), 100 seed weight (g), ear height(c m), grain yield per hectare (q), ear diameter (cm), days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, no. of kernel rows per cob, ear length (cm), plant height (cm), anthesis silking interval. The genetic advance was recorded high for number of kernels per row, grain yield per hectare (q), 100 seed weight (g), ear height (cm), number of kernel rows per cob, ear diameter (cm), ear length (cm) and anthesis silking interval. The result based on cluster analysis indicates that maximum number of inbreds were included in Cluster III (19), followed by Cluster I (13), Cluster II (5) Cluster V (3), whereas there was only one inbred in each rest of the clusters. Cluster means revealed that substantial variability existed for all the maturity, morphological and yield traits and hence the scope of using inbreds in breeding programmes. The maximum contribution among the characters towards divergence was revealed by days to maturity (17.6%), followed by number of kernels per row (16.33%), while as the contribution of character number of kernel rows per cob (0.82%) was minimum. For all quantitative traits, substantial amount of genetic variability has been observed among 50 inbred lines. The information generated through this study can be effectively utilized in planning maize improvement programme. Top Keywords Cluster analysis, Genetic advance, Heritability, Maize inbreds, Variability. Top |