DISSECTION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY AND YIELD ASSOCIATED TRAITS IN MAIZE HYBRIDS UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS USING MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2024 under rainfed conditions in Telangana to evaluate phenological, morphological, and yield traits of 20 pre-release maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids along with 8 commercial checks. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for ear height and grain yield, indicating substantial genetic variability and scope for selection under moisture stress. Early flowering hybrids such as BAUMH 22-2, BIO 9862, and RCRMH series were better adapted to short-duration conditions. High-yielding hybrids including BH 417189, GH 22336, RCRMH 23, and AHD 2035 showed superior performance with desirable agronomic traits and higher shelling percentage. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified seven components explaining 100% of total variation. The first three components accounted for 77.8% of the variance. PC1 (40.7%) was associated with grain yield, plant height, and ear height, representing the productivity axis. PC2 (23.6%) was related to phenological traits such as days to pollen shed, silking, and maturity, while PC3 (13.5%) was influenced by shelling percentage. The results indicate that yield and phenological traits are key contributors to genetic divergence and can be effectively utilized for selecting superior hybrids for rainfed environments