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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Two field experiments were conducted at Hyderabad and Aurangabad in India under water stress at flowering and well watered condition during the rabi season (2018). The objective of the study was to assess the drought tolerance traits in maize DHL’s x Tester (Top cross hybrids). Three hundred top crosses developed from crossing between 150 DHL’s and tester from heterotic group A similarly another 150 DHL’s and tester from heterotic group B along with four checks were evaluated under two watering treatments, i.e. well watering (WW) and water stress at flowering (WSF) using augmented complete block design. The effect due to genotypes x location was highly significant for all drought tolerance parameters studied. The drought stress at flowering stages of maize results in a drastic reduction in grain yield by 41.34 percent when compared to optimal condition.DSI had a significant and negative correlation coefficient with grain yield (-0.852), chlorophyll content (-0.622), ear height (-0.348) and plant height (-0.253) under WSF condition. Moreover, DSI had bigger in-magnitude, but highly significant and positive correlation coefficient with days ASI (0.745) tassel sterility (0.785) and tassel blast (0.771). Therefore, based on drought susceptible index, the top 34 hybrids have been shortlisted.The secondary drought traits play an important role which could be used for selection and improving grain yield and facilitate further efforts in maize breeding programs.