The selection efficiency for certain traits in crops can be broadened using estimates of genetic parameters, which are fundamental for plant breeding. Ten maize genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the field of Lamahi Municipality, Dang district of Nepal to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for growth, yield and yield contributing traits during summer season (June to August), 2018. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) recorded for all traits. The grain yield showed the highest PCV (50.78%) and GCV (51.24%) whereas the lowest PCV (4.51%) and GCV (4.50%) were recorded for test weight; test weight showed high heritability (0.99) with low genetic advance as a percent of mean (9.26). Grain yield showed positive and significant phenotypic correlation with test weight (r=0.960), kernel per row (r=0.924), kernel rows per cob (r=0.900) and cob length (r=0.840), respectively. Traits namely grain yield, number of kernels per cob and kernel rows per cob showed high GCV, PCV. Therefore these traits can be used further in crop improvement program. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.6(2): 163-169, August 2019

The present study was carried out to study the variation, broad-sense heritability, genetic advance, correlation among traits for growth, yield, and its attributing traits in maize genotypes. Ten maize genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications from June 2019 to September 2019. The results indicated that the genotypes were significantly different for all traits. For all traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). The grain yield showed the highest PCV (26.91%) and GCV (25.9%) whereas leaf width at maturity showed the lowest PCV (4.07%) and GCV (6.05%). Genetic Advance over Mean (GAM) for the traits ranged from the lowest value (0.1%) for days to 50% anthesis to the highest value (51.36%) for grain yield. Higher values of heritability and GAM % were obtained for grain yield (0.93, 51.36%) and 1000 grain weight (0.99, 36.95%) whereas the lowest values of heritability and GAM% were found for leaf length (0.5, 7.25%) and leaf width (0.39, 5.25%). Grain yield showed positive and significant phenotypic correlation with test weight (r ¼ 0.706), cob length (r ¼ 0.671), cob diameter (r ¼ 0.573) and number of rows per cob (r ¼ 0.539), respectively. Therefore, traits having high variation can be used as selection indices for indirect selection for the improvement of maize productivity.

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