Study of Genetic Variability in S

Two hundred S 1 generation selfed seeds of maize (Zea mays L.) along with their parents (nine) and few checks (sixteen) were raised in ear-to-row progenies during post rainy season 2012 with two replications, were evaluated under stress condition by using lattice square design (15x15). The analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences for eighteen characters except relative water content at 60 days and relative water content at 90 days. Close resemblance between Genotypic correlation coefficient (GCV) and Phenotypic correlation coefficient (PCV) was observed for all traits indicating that selection for these characters would be effective. Heritability estimates in general were high for ten characters studied viz., 50 per cent anthesis, 50 per cent silking, bulk cob weight, grain yield per plot, number of cobs, plant height, ear height, anthesis to silking interval, number of kernels per row and cob length. Highest heritability couple with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for bulk cob weight, grain yield per plot, number of cobs, anthesis to silking interval and number of kernels per row. Thus, these traits could be used as selection criteria for yield in maize.