Identification of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes for rainfed condition based on modeling of plant traits.

摘要

Nine maize genotypes were evaluated in 8 field experiments during kharif (June to October) seasons of 1994 to 2001 under rainfed conditions in a semiarid alfisol in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Performance of these cultivars was analysed based on grain yield, dry weight, fresh weight, days to 75% silking, anthesis to silking interval, and cob/plant height ratio under above and below normal rainfall conditions. The performance of some genotypes was comparatively better when other plant traits were taken into account in addition to grain yield. These included African Tall (fresh weight, anthesis to silking interval and cob/plant height ratio); DHM-105 (dry and fresh weight); HGT-3 (days to 75% silking); and Trishulata (fresh weight). Correlation and regression analysis of plant traits with grain yield indicated positive and significant relations between grain yield, fresh and dry weights for all the genotypes. African Tall had a maximum yield predictability (R2) of 0.97, while HGT-3 had the lowest predictability of 0.89. Based on the estimates of sustainability measured over different seasons DHM-105 and Trishulata were highly sustainable with an index of 0.96 and were the potential maize cultivars suitable for rainfed conditions in semiarid alfisols..