Genetic Variability, Heritability, Trait Associations and Path Coefficient Analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbreed Lines at Pawe Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the first most vital cereal share for the productivity, but the second in its production area coverage next to tef, in Ethiopia. However, its invention and productivity is influenced by biotic and abiotic factors i.e. striga and root lodging is the major ones in Benishangul Gumuz Region mainly at Pawe District. The absence of resistant/tolerant maize verities and or inbreed lines also another significant problem. Therefore, the present study was targeted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of traits, to verify the genotypic and phenotypic associations between important traits and to determine the relationship of traits with grain yield and direct and indirect effects using path coefficient analysis. The experiment was conducted at Pawe Agricultural Research Center using 23 inbreed lines with RCB design 3 in replications. Results revealed that strong significant (P<0.01) variations were sensible between inbreed lines in yield and yield related-traits. Moderate to high genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance as the percentage of mean values were recorded for plant height, ear height and grain yield. Plant height, ear height and number of ears harvested in a plot were observed significant to highly significant positive phenotypic and genotypic associations with grain yield while days to 50% anthesis and silk emergence, plant and ear aspects were showed negative highly significant associations with grain yield at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Tolerating the above constraints the highest grain yield were recorded from A7033 (8.3 t/ha), CML197 (6 t/ha) and CML202 (5.5 t/ha). Hence the authors recommended these lines as best parents for variety advancement and seed producers as female parent.