Combining ability and heterosis for phenologic and agronomic traits in maize (Zea mays L.) under drought conditions in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Borno State, Nigeria

This research work involves the improvement of the male line MLS4-1 of the hybrid AN-388 which was released by the Instituto Mexicano del Maíz of the Universidad Autónoma Agraria “Antonio Narro”. This line has excellent combining ability with other parental lines; however, it is susceptible to some diseases so that we are interested in improving it by using the backcross procedure. The Nepo population was used as a source population which is resistant to mildew spp. Three backcrosses and two recombinations were practiced before deriving lines and cross them with some testers. The objectives of this work were: 1. To evaluate the performance of recovered lines in combination with the original line MLS4-1, and with un-related testers, taking into account their combining ability and agronomic traits in relation to the hybrid AN-388, 2. To now the effectiveness of the backcross method to improve the MLS4-1 line. The results of this study allowed us to identify superior recovered lines that, in combination with the diverse testers, exceeded the agronomic value of thehybrid AN-388. Some recovered lines crossed with the MLS4-1 line produced excellent single crosses, indicating the possibility of getting new versions of the hybrid AN-388. Finally, we conclude that the improvement of the MLS4-1 line has permitted us to identify the best lines with higher combining ability and better agronomic traits.

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INFLUENCE OF INCORPORATED LABLAB PLANTED AT VARIOUS SPACINGS ON PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) VARIETIES IN NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA ZONE OF NIGERIA

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0403-279 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 358-365

Author(s):

Aderemi Adesoji ◽

Noah Oyebamiji ◽

Ibrahim Abubakar

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Block Design ◽

Lablab Purpureus ◽

Northern Guinea Savanna ◽

Guinea Savanna ◽

Savanna Zone ◽

Better Than

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of incorporated lablab planted at various spacings on productivity of two maize (Zea mays L.) varieties in northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria. Field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The treatments consisted of two varieties of maize (SAMMAZ 28 and SAMMAZ 29) and six green manure lablab (Lablab purpureus) plant spacings viz. 25cm x 10cm, 25cm x 20cm, 25cm x 30cm, 50cm x 10cm, 50cm x 20cm and 50cm x 30cm. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement and was replicated three times. SAMMAZ 29 performed significantly (P<0.05) better than SAMMAZ 28 on growth, yield components and grain yield (kg ha-1) of maize. Incorporation of lablab planted at various spacing significantly increased grain yield (kg ha-1) and all the maize parameters studied except cob diameter. In combined mean, incorporation of lablab planted at 25cm x 30cm significantly increased grain yield but at par with incorporation of lablab planted at spacing 50cm x 30cm. In combined mean, incorporation of lablab planted at 25cm x 30cm gave 18.2, 20.5, 18, 28.6 and 13.6% better grain yield than incorporation of lablab planted at spacings 25cm x 10cm, 25cm x 20cm, 50cm x10cm, 50cm x 20cm and 50cm x 30cm, respectively. Conclusively, incorporation of lablab planted at 25cm x 30cm was better than other spacings on SAMMAZ 29.

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