Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

GENETIC STUDIES INVOLVING METRIC TRAITS IN QUALITY PROTEIN MAIZE (QPM) LINES UNDER TEMPERATE CONDITIONS

Z.A. Dar, A.A. Lone, B.A. Elahi, G. Ali, M. Habib., M.A.Wani, M.A. Mir and G. Asima

Abstract

The present study was carried out to generate information on gene action utilizing Hayman’s component of diallel analysis. The experimental material comprised of 30 crosses generated by crossing six quality protein maize (QPM) lines in a diallel mating design during Kharief 2012. These 30 crosses along with standard checks viz., Vivek QPM-9 and SMC-5 were evaluated in randomized block design in three replications during Kharief 2013 and Kharief 2014. Significant differences among genotypes were observed for all the traits over the environments. Component analysis of genetic variance for pooled analysis revealed significance of both additive (D) and dominance (H1 and H2). The magnitude of dominance components was much higher than additive components indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action in inheritance of all traits under study. Average degree of dominance was in over dominance range for all characters. The gene distribution was observed to be asymmetrical for all traits. The value of KD / KR indicated presence of excess of dominant genes for all traits except 100-grain weight and ear girth. Low to moderate estimates of heritability (narrow sense) were recorded. The range of narrow sense heritability was low over the environments for most of the traits.