Multivariate analysis for yield and its component traits in Quality Protein Maize (QPM)

Abstract

25 genotypes of maize were studied to reveal the genetic relationship between the different accessions. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design with three replications having plot size of 1.5 x 4.0 = 6 m2 at TCA, Dholi, Farm. Each plot consisted of 2 rows of 4m length spaced at 75 cm row to row and 20 cm plant to plant, respectively. Recommended agronomic and plant protection measures were followed. The genotypes were observed for 11 quantitative traits from each replication. The traits which were studied include days to 75% tasseling, days to 75% silking, days to 75% brown husk, plant height, ear height, tassel length, cob length, cob diameter, number of kernel rows per cob, Number of kernels per row and grain yield. In this experiment, 5 principal components (PCs) exhibited more than 1.00 eigen value, and showed about 86.62% cumulative variability among the traits studied. The PC1 showed 28.78% while, PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5 exhibited 26.04%, 11.76%, 10.81% and 9.24% variability respectively among the inbreds. In the present study, PCA was done to identify the attributes whose selection would lead to improvement in grain yield of maize. Therefore, an attempt was taken to evaluate the 25 Quality Protein Maize (QPM) genotypes on the basis of PCA before taking up hybridization programme for further maize improvement programme.