Study of Genetic Divergence Using Metroglyph Analysis in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The present trial was carried out at the field experimentation center of the Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during kharif 2022 to study genetic variability and metroglyph analysis in 21 maize genotypes, including one check variety MAKKA 3 for fifteen quantitative traits. Based on mean performance of 21 genotypes of maize, grain yield per plant was highest in case of VL 183957 (87.8g), VL 19465 (70.26g), VL 183927 (69.6g), VL 19270 (69.2g) genotypes. On the basis of Analysis of variance, significant difference was recorded for all the grain yield and its components indicating presence of large amount of variability in the genotypes. The magnitude of GCV and PCV recorded highest for Days to 50% tasseling and Anthesis-silking interval. High heritability recorded in biological yield per plant, Days to 50% silking, Days to 50% tasseling. High genetic advance was recorded in biological yield per plant, Days to 50% tasseling and cob weight. High genetic advance as percent mean was recorded in Days to 50% tasseling, Anthesis-Silking interval. In metroglyph analysis six complexes are formed, based on biological yield and plant height which were the most variable characters. The maximum index scored by genotype VL-19465 and MAKKA 3 (check) (34) both belongs to complex III and respectively has higher index value for cob weight, grain rows per cob, number of grains per row, 100 seed weight, harvest index, days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, Anthesis-Silking interval, Days to 75% maturity and cob length. Therefore, these two genotypes present in these two complexes should be given priority during selection for maize yield improvement. These genotypes can be crossed to have maximum variability and good combination of characters.