Studies on Genetic Variability Parameters on Grain Yield and Its Yield Attributing Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize (Zea mays L.), the American Indian word for corn, in Indian common name makka has various names in different part of world has its literal meaning "a product which sustains life".It mainly produced in temperate regions of the western hemisphere and China; Brazil and several countries in Europe etc.Its production is mainly dominated by top five countries (US, China, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina) accounting for nearly 75%of the world production (Kumar, 2008).In the present study 20 diverse varieties/genotypes were grown in RBD design with three replications during Kharif 2015 to study the genetic parameters viz.ANOVA, GCV, PCV, h2 and Genetic Advance (GA).The results indicates that ANOVA for all the characters viz.cob weight, shelling %, moisture %, initial plant stand, final plant stand, cob count, days to 50% pollen shed, days to 50% silking, days to 70% dry husk, plant height, ear height are highly significant while grain yield showed significant values.The high GCV and PCV values were observed for grain yield, cob weight while moderate GCV and PCV values were shown by moisture %, days to 70% dry husk and cob count.High heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance in per cent of mean was observed for grain yield, cob count, days to 70% dry husk, plant height, and ear height.Conclusively PCV was higher GCV indicates that environmental role in the expression of these traits.