EVALUATION OF TESTCROSSES DERIVED FROM MAIZE VARIETY AZAM FOR YIELD an‎d YIELD ASSOCIATED TRAITS

This study was conducted to evaluate test crosses of S, lines derived from maize variety for yield and yield associated traits at two locations. During spring 2007 (March-June), 41 S, lines (developed through S, line recurrent selection during 2006) were test crossed to a single cross maize hybrid at Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar. In the succeeding summer (July-October), these 41 test crosses along with two checks were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at both sites of the study. Significant genetic differences among the testcrosses were observed for all the studied traits. Similarly, significant Genotype * Location interaction were also observed for all the traits except kernel rows ear. Maximum ear length was observed for AzTC-39 whereas maximum kernel rows ear? was recorded for AzTC-8 and AzTC-12. AZTC-13 and AZTC-34 displayed maximum grain moisture at harvest while AzTC-4 and AzTC-23 had maximum 1000-kernel weight. AzTC-25 was the highest yielding test cross with moderate heritability value. Testcrosses AzTC-4, AzTC-8, AZTC-12, AzTC-23, AzTC-25 and AzTC-39 thus displayed potential for selection of the desired traits. The genetic potential of these testcrosses can be exploited in maize breeding programs in Pakistan.