Genetic Variance and Correlation of Forage Yield and Quality Traits in Tropically Adapted Maize

Two F2 populations segregating for biomass yield and forage quality traits were developed from two separate crosses of tropically adapted maize inbred lines. The parental, F1 generations both evaluated to estimate broad sense heritability, genetic advance correlations these suggest the best as selection criteria towards breeding with high quality.In Cross 1, trait highest broad-sense heritability was plant height (70.03%), whereas crude protein content (66.60%). Heritability estimates in 2 all (>50% traits). Indigestible cell wall component represented by acid detergent lignin found be highly heritable populations. High percent mean fresh dry well Correlation analysis on showed that components significantly correlated. All related positively correlated yield. Traits moderate predicted advance, namely height, can used improve nutritive utilization. Selecting higher would also result selecting individuals shown correlation analysis.