Genetic Studies of Morphological and Physiological Traits Associated with Drought and Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth Tolerance in Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Guinea Savanna Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

Abstract

Aims: The present study aims to evaluate the parental and F1 hybrid populations for yield, morphological and physiological traits under water-stressed and striga-infested conditions. Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment with three replications was conducted at the experimental field of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) at Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana for duration of two consecutive years (2014-2015). Results & Discussion: The study showed that a significantly high negative effect in GCA for the parent populations was recorded in TAIS03, KOBN03-OB, DT-STR-W-C2 and IWD-C3-SYN-F2 for majority of the traits. F1 hybrids, KOBN03 x DT, DT x TAIS03, TAIS03 x KOBN03, IWD x GUMA03, GUMA03 x DT, GUMA03 x SISF03 and SISF03 x TAIS03 showed a negative significant effect of SCA for most of the traits. A highly significant negative effects of GCA and SCA of parents and F1 hybrids for majority of raits showed that these genotypes were highly tolerant to drought and/ or Striga hermonthica. Negative values for GCA and SCA effects reveal a contribution to drought and/ or striga tolerant traits, while positive values for GCA and SCA effects indicate tendency towards drought and/ or striga sensitive. Conclusion: It is concluded that the geographical areas (drought-prone or striga-infested) like guinea savanna, parent and F1 hybrid populations (TAIS03, KOBN03-OB, DT-STR-W-C2 and IWD-C3-SYN-F2) and (KOBN03 x DT, DT x TAIS03, TAIS03 x KOBN03, IWD x GUMA03, GUMA03 x DT, GUMA03 x SISF03 and SISF03 x TAIS03) respectively could be used for increased grain yield.