Genetic study of babycorn yield and micronutrient biofortification

Abstract

Twenty four inbred lines were evaluated in this study for babycorn yield and related traits, besides babycorn micronutrients (iron, calcium, phosphorous and copper). The study revealed considerable genetic variability for the traits under study. Most of the yield components displayed significant positive correlation with babycorn yield, except days to fifty percent tasseling, silking, plant height, ear height which also displayed positive significant correlation with babycorn Fe concentration. Plant height and number of leaves per plant also showed positive significant correlation with babycorn Ca concentration. Positive significant genotypic correlation with the babycorn yield was found for fodder yield, P, Ca and Cu concentrations. Path coefficient analysis at genotypic level revealed that the highest positive direct effects on babycorn yield was exhibited by days to 50% tasseling (28.21) followed by babycorn weight(16.07), plant height (14.85), babycorn girth(5.07), number of leaves per plant(4.44), iron content (4.01) and copper content (3.65). Analysis of interrelations among various traits indicated the possibility to develop early maturing high yielding genotypes with enriched babycorn phosphorous, iron, calcium and copper concentration.