Evaluating released Maize hybrids parents for yield producibility and nicking time in mid altitude of western and north western Ethiopia

Asefa, G.; Damtie, Y.; Bayisa, E.

doi:10.21608/svuijas.2024.272869.1347

Evaluating released Maize hybrids parents for yield producibility and nicking time in mid altitude of western and north western Ethiopia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Bako National Maize Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

² Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Pawe Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

³ Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holeta Agricultura Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

10.21608/svuijas.2024.272869.1347

Abstract

In maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid seed production, parent seed producibility is the primary criteria to be considered. Experiments which comprised 33 maize genotypes (nine crosses and 24 lines) planted in randomized complete block design with three replications at Bako and Pawe agricultural research center in 2019 to evaluate seed producibility of the parents. Combined analysis of variance showed highly significant difference among genotypes for all traits including grain yield (GY). Highly significant difference of the genotypes with environment interactions for GY and flowering characters (50% days to anthesis and silking) indicated inconsistence performance and flowering. In both location, single cross female parents flowered more than five days (-5) earlier than the male parent inbred lines during certified seed production in all three-way-cross hybrids. This suggested separate planting days would be needed for the male inbred line and the single cross female parent at each location. Hybrid varieties, BHQPY545, BH549 (Ilu), and BH520 (Nada) showed closer flowering synchronization between their parents (ranged from -3 to +4 days), and GY ranged from 3.07t/ha to 4.54t/ha with the desired male plant height to female ear height ratio. Generally, in hybrid seed production, seed yield and flower synchronization extent depends on varietal parents, environmental factors and their interactions. Therefore, it is concluded that before a variety release, knowing flower nicking period and seed producibility are important factors to be considered, and utilizing growing degree days based on heat unit allowing more precise and calibrate staggering date decision in different maize seed producing agro ecologies.

Keywords