EVALUATION OF TESTCROSSES DERIVED FROM MAIZE VARIETY AZAM FOR YIELD AND YIELD ASSOCIATED TRAITS

摘要

This study was conducted to evaluate test crosses of Sj lines derived from maize variety for yield and yield associated traits at two locations. During spring 2007 (March-June), 41 S_1 lines (developed through S_1 line recurrent selection during 2006)were test crossed to a single cross maize hybrid at Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar. In the succeeding summer (July-October), these 41 test crosses along with two checks were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at both sites of the study. Significant genetic differences among the tester osses were observed for all the studied traits. Similarly, significant Genotype x Location interaction were also observedfor all thetraits except kernel rows ear~(-1). Maximum ear length was observed for AzTC-39 whereas maximum kernel rows ear~(-1) was recorded for AzTC-8 and AzTC-12. AzTC-13 and AzTC-34 displayed maximum grain moisture at harvest while AzTC-4 and AzTC-23 had maximum1000-kernel weight. AzTC-25 was the highest yielding test cross with moderate heritability value. Testcrosses AzTC-4, AzTC-8, AzTC-12, AzTC-23, AzTC-25 and AzTC-39 thus displayed potential for selection of the desired traits. The genetic potential of these testcrosses can be exploited in maize breeding programs in Pakistan.