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Identification of drought enduring and productivity traits and their use in combination breeding in maize (Zea mays L.)

Dass, S.

Identification of drought enduring and productivity traits and their use in combination breeding in maize (Zea mays L.) - Kathmandu (Nepal) NARC|CIMMYT : 2002 - p. 113-116 - Printed

Drought and low productivity is a serious problem in 80% of the area of the developing and under developed countries of the world. Majority of the countries grow maize with low yield potential lacking drought enduring traits. Drought tolerance and productivity are complex traits governed by a large number of factors. Two hundred inbred lines of maize developed at Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal, India were evaluated for different morpho-physiological and genetically inherited traits under normal and artificially created drought environments. Two screening techniques were used for the study by limiting the irrigations at different crop growth stages. Contrasting lines were used for the detailed studies. Results of both the techniques were compared. The important characters identified for drought endurance in maize were ASI, erect leaves, strong stem, stay green, leaf senescence, tassel blasting, ears per plant, horizontal/vertical expansion & root hairs, chlorophyll stability index and grain yield. Some of the identified lines possessing most of these drought enduring traits were HKI-3-4, 139,201,209,254,295,335,536, 645,877 ,1011, 1015,1025, 1027,1035, 1040,1332. Some of these inbreds were very good general combiners for yield and other productivity traits. Hybrid developed from these lines were high yielding and drought tolerant. Some of the hybrids developed from these inbreds are in advance stage of testing at state and national level. The most promising hybrids were 139 x 1011, 1015 x 645, 1035 x 645, 1015 x 1011, 1040x 3, 1040 x 10l1, 3 x 1040,1040 x 209, 335 x 1011, 201 x 209 and 201 x 335. One of the hybrid named HHM-1 has already been released for general cultivation by the farmers. Critical growth stages, at which the drought affects the yield were identified as flowering and grain filling. Initial vigour plays an important role if the drought appears in the early crop growth stages. Hybrids were having better drought enduring ability as compared to inbreds due to their vigor.


English

99933-205-1-X


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