Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studied in quality protein maize inbreds (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with thirty inbred lines of Quality Protein Maize to determining genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for traits selection. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the fifteen characters. From the variability studies, high magnitude of PCV and GCV were observed for traits like yield per plot followed by peduncle length, 100 kernel weight indicating that these traits could be used for yield improvement under maize breeding programme. In the present set of materials, high heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for yield per plot, 100 kernel weight, peduncle length indicating effectiveness of selection due to preponderance of additive gene action for these traits and direct selection may be effective.