MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION IN RELATION TO GROWTH AND YIELD POTENTIALS OF MAIZE GENOTYPES IN SYLHET

Abstract

An experiment was carried out for morphological characterization and evaluation of field performance of maize genotypes at the experimental field of the Department of Crop Botany and Tea Production Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU), Sylhet during December 2014 to May 2015. The experimental materials were ZM 0001, ZM 0002, ZM 0003, ZM 0004, ZM 0005, ZM 0006 ZM 0007 and BARI Maize 6 and were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Significant variations were observed for most of the plant characters studied among eight maize genotypes. The tallest plant (246.5 cm) was found in the genotype ZM 0005 and the shortest (175.1 cm) was in ZM 0007. Highest number of leaves was produced in ZM 0001 (14.01) at 75 days after sowing (DAS). Highest number of roots, longest root and maximum root spreading was produced in ZM 0001 (42.67), ZM 0001 (31.10 cm) and ZM 0003 (27.73 cm), respectively at 90 days after germination (DAG). Longest and widest leaf was recorded in ZM 0004 (94.67 cm) and BARI Maize 6 (10.32 cm), respectively. The most spreaded plant both in north-south and east-west direction was found in ZM 0005 (139.3 cm and 37.67 cm, respectively). The plants of genotype ZM 0005 showed the most vigorous growth (0.9167 m ) and ZM 0005 had highest plant volume (0.3267 m 3 ). Highest tillering percentage was found in ZM 0002 and ZM 0003 (31.67%). The genotype ZM 0004 tasseled and silked earlier. The genotype ZM 0004 and ZM 0005 had the longest internodes (21.61 cm). Longest ear height was found in ZM 0005 (143.8 cm). Ears appeared between 6-11th node. Longest ear peduncle was found in BARI Maize 6 (8.583 cm). The genotype ZM 0004 matured the earliest (109.3 days) and BARI Maize 6 matured the last (126 days). Longest and widest tassel was found in ZM 0004 (46.73 cm) and BARI Maize 6 (32.73 cm), respectively. Highest amount of root dry weight was found in ZM 0007 (36.03 g) and shoot, leaf and total dry matter was obtained in BARI Maize 6 (254.6 g, 45.99 g and 287.5 g, respectively) at harvesting. Highest AGR, CGR value was recorded in BARI Maize 6 (5.686 g day 3 respectively) and RGR value was in ZM 0001 (114.1 mg g -1 -2 -1 and 45.48 g m

day , ). The genotype ZM 0006 produced highest RSR and RWR value (0.1818 and 0.1536, respectively) and the genotype BARI Maize 6 produced highest SWR and LWR value (0.918 and 0.5967, respectively). Highest length and diameter of ear was recorded in BARI Maize 6 (16.06 cm and 4.607 cm, respectively). Number of kernel rows ear -1 -1 day -1 was observed in BARI Maize 6 (30.89). The longest, widest and the thickest kernel was found in ZM 0005 (9.99 mm), BARI Maize 6 (8.977 mm), ZM 0005 (4.363 mm), respectively. The genotype ZM 0004 showed highest prolificacy index (1.33). Highest thousand kernel weight (253.4 g), grain yield ear was highest in ZM 0005 (13.89) and highest number of kernels row -1 ) was produced by BARI Maize 6 followed by ZM 0005 and ZM 0004. Maximum growth and yield contributing characters showed significant positive correlations with grain yield. Among the studied genotypes, BARI Maize 6, ZM 0005 and ZM 0004 performed better among the studied genotypes in respect of morpho-physiological and yield contributing characters. So these genotypes could be included in future selection process. -1 (65.64 g), grain yield plant -1 (83.72 g) and grain yield (6.697 t ha -1