SCREENING OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) INBRED LINES UNDER WATER DEFICIT CONDITIONS

Abstract

Development of the selection criteria and selection of crop plant genotypes is a crucial and important task of plant breeders. The present study was designed to screen out the drought or water deficit tolerant maize genotypes. Fifty genotypes were taken from maize germplasm restored by the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. One set of genotypes were grown under 100% field capacity while other set at 50% field capacity in wire house conditions. The significant contrasts were observed in genotypes of various attributes under ordinary and stress timeframe. The traits root length and root shoot ratio by mass showed the high heritability and genetic advance and genotypic correlation with each other under water deficit condition provided the basis for the selection. The principle component analysis showed that the genotypes A545, AES204, WM13RA were chosen on the premise of better performance for most of the traits under study. These lines may be used in further breeding program as candidate parents for the development of drought tolerant hybrids.