Performance,heterosis and correlation studies on typical maize hybrids for acid soil tolerance

• Published in: Journal of ISSAAS Vol. 13; no. 2
• Main Authors: Hayati, P.K.D, Saleh, G.E., University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia). Cept. of Crop Science, Shamshuddin, J., Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia). Dept. of Land Management, Napis, S., Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia). Faculty of Biotechnology and Bio-Molecular Sciences
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2007
• Subjects: ACID SOILS; CATION; CATIONES; CATIONS; CROP YIELD; ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO DE LA PLANTA; GENOTIPOS; GENOTYPE; GENOTYPES; HETEROSIS; HIBRIDOS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_10176; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16169; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3225; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3705; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3707; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4533; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5753; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5959; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8504; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_89; HYBRIDE; HYBRIDS; MALAISIE; MALASIA; MALAYSIA; PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES; RENDEMENT DES CULTURES; RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS; SOL ACIDE; STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT VEGETAL; SUELO ACIDO; VIGOR HIBRIDO; VIGUEUR HYBRIDE; ZEA MAYS
• ISSN: 0859-3132

Highly weathered soils occupy about 72% of arable soils in Malaysia. These soils have low pH,high A1 concentration, low cation exchange capacities and Ca and/or Mg deficiencies which limit maize production on acid soils. Planting maize hybrids tolerant to soil acidity would increase yields on acid soils.Thirty-six single cross hybrids were evaluated at two locations to determine their general performance, level of heterosis revealed and correlation for important traits measured an acid soils. Split plots in randomized complete block design with 3 replications were used. Main plots were soil acidity statues, while subplots were genotypes. H28,H34,H11,H27 and H5 were the top five acid soil tolerant hybrids, consistently giving high grain yields. Average grain yield from the top five hybrids in Puchong was lower that that in Serdang. In addition, H28 showed the highest soil acidity tolerance indices for grain yield at both locations.High mid-parent heterosis (MPH)and better-parent heterosis (BPH) were revealed by crosses between parents of diverse population sources. Generally, the expression of MPH and BPH was higher on acidic soil than non acidic, suggesting that soil acidity influences the manifestation of this genetic phenomenon. Grain yield of the hybrids was correlated with all yield components measured.Highest correlation was shown between grain yield and ear weight/ear, with r value of 0.99 at both locations. Flowering maturity traits were negatively correlated with other traits, indicating that early flowering and monitoring hybrids gave more favorable grain yield and other traits measure.Promising hybrids identified in the study have the potential to be grown in acid soils in Malaysia.