Genetic variability and correlation studies of yield and yield related attributes in BC2F2 population of sweet corn

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance as percent of mean, correlation, skewness, and kurtosis of the backcross population BC2F2 derived from the cross SCM-Se-Sh-2 × DBT 17. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for cob girth, number of kernels per row, cob weight, 100 grain weight and single plant yield, suggesting additive gene action and selection of progenies based on this trait will result in higher genetic gain. Association studies showed that single plant yield was positively correlated with all yield attributes, viz., cob weight, number of kernels per row, 100 grain weight and plant height. These results depicted that cob weight, numbers of kernels per row and 100 grain weight may be used as reliable criteria for improving grain yield. Single plant yield, 100 grain weight, cob weight and plant height showed positive skewness and platykurtic distribution. This indicates that traits are governed by a large number of genes, and most of the genes exhibited complementary gene action, suggesting rigorous selection to achieve genetic gain. Overall, it is seen that this population has potential for yield improvement with enriched beta-carotene content.