VARIABILITY, CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF F 4 POPULATIONS OF THE WHITE MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Maize produced the highest grain yield among the cereal crops and contributed about 39% in total cereal production, where the white grained type maize is additionally consumed as human food throughout the world. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka-1207 during kharif-1 in 2018-2019 to determine the mean performance, genetic variability, correlation, and path coefficient of 25 F 4 populations of white maize. Among the populations, the shortest plant height was found in the population Youngnuo-7-R 3 3

(86.98 cm), Youngnuo-7-R 3 -S 1 -2 was the early maturing line (103.67 days) and Youngnuo-7-R 3 -S 1 -1 produced the highest grain yield per plant (111.67 g). Higher genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values were observed for cob height (18.17 and 24.78), the number of branches of tassels (22.95 and 28.56), and yield per plant (15.38 and 27.95). Higher heritability with higher genetic advance percent mean was observed in the number of branches of tassels (65% and 37.98). The correlation studies revealed a significant positive relation of yield per plant with base diameter, leaf length, leaf width, cob length, cob diameter, number of rows per cob, number of grains per row, and 100-grains weight. The path analysis showed a very high and high positive direct effect on yield through days to 50% tasselling, cob height, number of total leaves per plant, leaf width, cob diameter, number of rows per cob, and 100-grains weight. Considering the mean performance, Youngnuo-7-R 3 -S 1 -3, Changnuo-6-R 3 -S 3 , Youngnuo-7-R 3 XIII -S 1 -2, and Changnuo-6-R 3 S 2 -1, 2 were selected for cob height, plant height, and additionally short duration. On the other hand, Changnuo-1-R 3 -S 1 -1 and Youngnuo-7-R 3 -S 1 -1 were selected for the yield potentiality. Thus, the generation advance and selection work in progress.