Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes
Maize is a valuable crop with high genetic variability, and understanding this variability is essential for improving crop productivity and resilience to environmental stressors. This study evaluated the genetic variability and heritability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2023-0010 |
| _version_ | 1797354390325035008 |
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| author | Idehen Emmanuel Ohiosinmuan Abegunde Isaac Oloruntoba Kehinde Olusola Babatunde |
| author_facet | Idehen Emmanuel Ohiosinmuan Abegunde Isaac Oloruntoba Kehinde Olusola Babatunde |
| author_sort | Idehen Emmanuel Ohiosinmuan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maize is a valuable crop with high genetic variability, and understanding this variability is essential for improving crop productivity and resilience to environmental stressors. This study evaluated the genetic variability and heritability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes in a humid climate region of Southwestern Nigeria. The experiments followed rigorous agronomic, soil, and climatic requirements for maize cultivation. Our findings revealed significant genetic variability among the traits of the maize genotypes, particularly in the number of ears per plant, which had the highest genetic advancement as a percentage of the mean (68.25 % and 67.83 %) under both well-watered and drought conditions, respectively. This suggests that breeding programs targeting this trait could significantly improve maize productivity and resilience to drought stress. Additionally, most of the agronomic traits targeted were highly heritable with heritability values ranging from 0.76 to 0.99 under both environments where the genotypes were evaluated, thus indicating that selective breeding for these traits could lead to consistent improvements in maize yields over time. Overall, this study highlights the importance of evaluating yield-related traits’ genetic variability and heritability in maize breeding programs. Findings suggest that targeting the number of ears per plant in drought-tolerant maize genotypes as revealed in the study could be an effective approach for improving crop productivity and resilience in regions with variable moisture regimes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:48:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e73a35f1153444d087eb64e38e808b6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1801-0571 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:48:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica |
| spelling | doaj.art-e73a35f1153444d087eb64e38e808b6f2024-01-16T07:19:59ZengSciendoAgricultura Tropica et Subtropica1801-05712023-01-01561819110.2478/ats-2023-0010Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypesIdehen Emmanuel Ohiosinmuan0Abegunde Isaac Oloruntoba1Kehinde Olusola Babatunde21Crop and Pasture Production and Sustainable Environment, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria1Crop and Pasture Production and Sustainable Environment, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria2Plant Breeding and Seed Technology Department, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, NigeriaMaize is a valuable crop with high genetic variability, and understanding this variability is essential for improving crop productivity and resilience to environmental stressors. This study evaluated the genetic variability and heritability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes in a humid climate region of Southwestern Nigeria. The experiments followed rigorous agronomic, soil, and climatic requirements for maize cultivation. Our findings revealed significant genetic variability among the traits of the maize genotypes, particularly in the number of ears per plant, which had the highest genetic advancement as a percentage of the mean (68.25 % and 67.83 %) under both well-watered and drought conditions, respectively. This suggests that breeding programs targeting this trait could significantly improve maize productivity and resilience to drought stress. Additionally, most of the agronomic traits targeted were highly heritable with heritability values ranging from 0.76 to 0.99 under both environments where the genotypes were evaluated, thus indicating that selective breeding for these traits could lead to consistent improvements in maize yields over time. Overall, this study highlights the importance of evaluating yield-related traits’ genetic variability and heritability in maize breeding programs. Findings suggest that targeting the number of ears per plant in drought-tolerant maize genotypes as revealed in the study could be an effective approach for improving crop productivity and resilience in regions with variable moisture regimes.https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2023-0010genotype * environment interactiongenetic advancementselective breedingheritabilityagronomic traitsmoisture regimeszea mays |
| spellingShingle | Idehen Emmanuel Ohiosinmuan Abegunde Isaac Oloruntoba Kehinde Olusola Babatunde Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica genotype * environment interaction genetic advancement selective breeding heritability agronomic traits moisture regimes zea mays |
| title | Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes |
| title_full | Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes |
| title_fullStr | Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes |
| title_short | Genetic variability of yield and yield-related traits among 27 drought-tolerant maize genotypes |
| title_sort | genetic variability of yield and yield related traits among 27 drought tolerant maize genotypes |
| topic | genotype * environment interaction genetic advancement selective breeding heritability agronomic traits moisture regimes zea mays |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2023-0010 |
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