Assessment of heritability and genetic advance in maize (Zea mays L.) under natural and water stress conditions

Abstract

Two sets of maize inbred lines containing 04 inbred lines were selected as parents viz., drought tolerant and susceptible from a diverse gene pool and crossed to produce 02 hybrids. The cross 1 comprised of a drought tolerant inbred line as VDR-51 and a susceptible inbred line 5CDR-53. The cross 2 comprised of a drought tolerant inbred line as DR3-126 and a susceptible inbred line DR-37. The trial was sown under triplicated split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) under drought and rain-fed conditions. Both heritability and genetic advance estimates were higher for grain yield and plant height, hence additive gene action was depicted. While, narrow sense heritability and genetic advance was lower for remaining parameters under both the environmental conditions which clearly specified that non-additive gene action was present. Results indicated that the said breeding material might be better suited for heterosis breeding under drought prone semi-arid areas.