Genetic Analysis of Zinc, Iron and Provitamin A Content in Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.)

Breeding maize with high contents of zinc, iron and provitamin A (PVA) could be effective in mitigating micronutrient deficiency developing countries a reliance on maize-based diets. Information the mode inheritance iron, PVA grain yield (GY) would facilitate development varieties enhanced these nutrients. Twenty-four yellow to orange inbred lines their 96 F1 hybrids generated using North Carolina Design II, were evaluated alongside four checks for two years at locations Nigeria. The effects environment, hybrid line significant GY PVA. GY, ranged from 1.49 6.05 t ha−1, 22.51 33.33 mg kg−1, 20.04 29.65 kg−1 3.55 15.28 µg g−1, respectively. Additive gene controlled accumulation Fe, whereas both additive non-additive Zn GY. Inbred general combining ability single or multiple micronutrients identified, used develop synthetics that combine content. Six combined all three micronutrients, are recommended further evaluation possible release. Our study revealed feasibility enriching without compromising yield.