EVALUATION OF QUALITY PROTEIN MAIZE GENOTYPES FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN HILL REGION OF NEPAL

Nepalese people in hill are suffering from protein malnutrition as their major staple food is normal maize which is poor in essential amino acids contents. So development of quality protein maize (QPM) is one of the best options to address malnutrition problem. The experiments were conducted in randomized complete block designs with three replications during 2010 summer season at Dhankuta (Pakhribas), Kaski (Lumle) and Dailekh (Kimugaun) of Nepal to identify and develop high yielding quality protein maize varieties. Plant height, ear height, days to 50% tasseling and days to 50% silking were found significant for tested genotypes in all locations. At Dhankuta, the genotype SS00TLYQ-HG-AB were highest grain yielder (4210 kg ha-1) followed by S00TLYQ-B (4120 kg ha-1) and Rampur-S03FQ02 (4070 kg ha-1). Similarly at Kaski the genotype S01SIYQ produced the highest grain yield (5590 kg ha-1) and then S99TLYQ-HG-AB (5270 kg ha-1) and Farmers variety (5510 kg ha-1). The genotype OBATAMPA was first in grain yield production (6600 kg ha-1) followed by S99TLYQ-B (5830 kg ha-1) and S01SIYQ (5620 kg ha-1) at Dailekh. Thus above mentioned all QPM genotypes are identified best for achieving higher production in mid hills in respective locations. The genotypes S99TLYQ-HG-AB produced the highest grain yield (4950 kg ha-1) followed by Poshilo Makai-1 (4760 kg ha-1) and Rampur S03FQ02 (4750 kg ha-1) in a combined analysis over hill locations which indicating these genotypes were suitable genotypes to achieve higher production in all locations.