Genetic variability, heritability estimates, correlations and predicted responses to S1 selection for seedling emergence and yield in three maize populations
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1986-04-14
Authors
Opeke, B.O.
Fakorede, M. A. B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Journal of Agronomy
Abstract
S1 families from three tropical maize (Zea mays L.) populations; FARZ 27, FARZ 34 and TzSR-W-l, were used to study genetic variation for emergence percentage (E%); emergence index (EI), emergence rate index (ERI) and yield. Significant genotypic. differences existed for all traits and estimates of genetic variances and heritabilities were moderate to high for all traits, indicating that selection would be effective in the desired direction for each of the traits in' the populations. Genotypic correlations of the emergence traits and yield inter se were moderate to high, thus suggesting that index selection could be practiced. Seedling emergence traits were strongly associated with stand at harvest and number of ears per plot. An increase E% would therefore lead to higher stand and number of ears at harvest and ultimately, increased grain yield. Predicted direct gains in emergence traits were higher than correlated responses to selection in the three populations. However, indirect selection for yield via ERI resulted in slightly higher predicted gains than direct selection for yield.
It is concluded that 1) genetic variability exists in the three populations for emergence traits and yield, 2) the populations appear suitable for recurrent selection to improve these traits, and 3) simultaneous improvement of emergence traits and grain yield should be feasible in the three populations.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
Zea mays L. , correlated-responses , population improvement , Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Biology
Citation
Opeke, B. O. & Fakorede, M. A. B. (1986). Genetic variability, heritability estimates, correlations and predicted responses to S1 selection for seedling emergence and yield in three maize populations. Nigerian Journal of Agronomy. 1(1), 1-8pp.