Interactive Effects of Genotype X Year on Disease Reactions , Grain Yield and Other Agronomic Traits of Newly Developed Quality Protein Maize in Nigeria = تأثير التداخل بين المورثات و السنة على التفاعل المرضي ، إنتاج الحبوب و الصفات الزراعية الأخرى للذ...

What is it about?

Experiments were conducted on six newly developed open-pollinated quality protein maize (QPM) genotypes and two check entries for three years (2009-2011). The objective was to assess their yield potentials and disease tolerance/ resistance in the southern Guinea savanna agroecology of Nigeria. Genotype and year of evaluation were significant for (P<0.01 and <0.05) grain yield, harvest moisture and lodging characteristics. Genotypes x years interactive effect for grain yield revealed different genotypic performances of the genotypes tested with two checks (Oba-Super 1 and DMRLSR-Y) being responsible for the significant differences obtained in the three years of evaluation. The average grain yield was significantly higher in the year 2011 compared to 2009 and 2010. All the genotypes tested were moderately tolerant to the five diseases ranging from 1.5 (Streak virus) in Oba-Super 1 (check) to 2.9 (Southern leaf blight, Curvularia leaf spot and Leaf rust) in the ART98-SW6-OB and ART98-SW4-OB respectively. Ear rot mostly affected the leaves among diseases with a range of 2.3 to 2.8 in TZPB-OB and DMR-LSR-Y respectively. Four QPM genotypes (ART98-SW5-OB, ART98-SW4-OB, TZPB-OB and ART98-SW6-OB) were superior for grain yield with yield advantage of 28% over the best OPV check. These QPM genotypes can therefore serve as useful replacements for existing cultivars and also as sources of genes for future maize breeding activities in the development of superior maize varieties with high protein contents for the savanna agroecology.

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Why is it important?

The newly developed QPM genotypes tested were generally suitable for the southern Guinea savanna ecology of Nigeria. They were fairly resistant/tolerant to the prevailing diseases in the region. However, four QPM genotypes (ART98-SW5-OB, ART98-SW4-OB, TZPBOB and ART98-SW6-OB) have been identified to be higher yielding compared with other genotypes tested.