EVALUATION OF MAIZE HALF SIB FAMILIES FOR MATURITY AND GRAIN YIELD ATTRIBUTES

This study was undertaken at the Research Farm of KP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2008 to evaluate half-sib maize families for maturity, yield and yield related traits. One hundred and forty four halfsib families derived from maize variety Pahari were used in the study. The experiment was laid out in 12X12 partial balance lattice design with two replications. Results indicated that the half-sib families were significantly different from one another for all the traits studied. Among the 144 families, maximum anthesissilking interval (3.5) was recorded for HS-74. On the other hand minimum anthesis silking interval (2) was recorded for HS-53. Maximum plant height (192.5cm) was observed for HS-67 while minimum (140 cm) was recorded for HS- 101. Minimum ear height (48 cm) was observed for HS-98 while maximum (97.5 cm) was recorded for HS-78. HS-2 exhibited the maximum ear length (18.5) whereas HS-77, HS-20 and HS-32 showed the minimum ear length (12 cm). Highest kernel rows ear^-1 (16) was observed for HS-12 and HS-113 whereas minimum (11) was recorded for HS-9, HS-72, HS-102 and HS-138. Maximum 100 grains weight (33.6 g) was exhibited by HS-93 while minimum (20 g) was exhibited by HS-84. Highest (6987 kg) grain yield was recorded for HS-51 while minimum (2269 kg) was showed by HS-102. Maximum heritability estimate (0.88) was observed for days to mid silking, while minimum (0.46) was observed for kernel rows cob^-1. Maximum correlation of yield was recorded with plant height and ear length. These results suggest that these half-sib families could be used as source of improved maize germplasm for developing maize genotypes with superior attributes.