Genetic Variability and Yield Performance of Some Maize (Zea mays L.) Accessions in Nigeria

Le résumé fourni par la source

Maize (Zea mays L.) is predominantly cultivated as a rainy-season crop in Nigeria. This study assessed the genetic variability among twenty-one maize germplasms collected from selected states in northern Nigeria. Agronomic evaluations were conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Yield-related parameters—including cob length and girth, thousand-grain weight, grain yield, and straw yield—were recorded at harvest and subjected to statistical analysis.The results showed significant variation (P < 0.05) among the accessions for cob length, with NG-03 producing the longest cob (21.60 cm). NGR-03 recorded the highest number of seeds per cob (42.40). However, the number of rows per cob did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the accessions. For total seeds per cob, NG-03 had the highest mean value (613.03). The lowest seed weight was observed in accession NGR-OY-29 (62.00), while NG-03 also produced the longest seed length (1.10 cm). Accession BA-01 differed significantly from all others in husk hair length, and JG-01 recorded the longest husk length (34.01 cm) among the accessions.Overall, the observed variations in yield parameters reflect substantial genetic diversity. These traits are therefore valuable for the identification, description, and characterization of maize accessions, providing useful information for future breeding programmes.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.