Assessment of Genetic Variability and Inter-Relationship for Yield Attributing Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes in White Nile State, Sudan

Maize is an important source of calories and protein in human lives in many countries of the world and is the main staple food in Africa, particularly in eastern Africa. In the Sudan, the low yield of maize was mainly due to the use of low yielding landraces. It is necessary to carry out breeding programs that deal with the production of high yielding, adaptable new varieties. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate genetic variability, heritability, genotypic performance and interrelationships among the traits. Ten maize genotypes evaluated at White Nile Research Station Farm, Kosti, of the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani Sudan were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the two seasons of 2021 and 2022. Most evaluated genotypes exhibited a wide and significant variation in the 11 measured traits. Genotypic coefficient of variation and genetic advance were recorded for days to 50% tasseling, ear diameter (cm), number of grains per row and grain yield (t/ha) in both seasons. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for grain yield, ear length, ear height, plant height, number of rows per ear, ear weight, days to 50% tasseling, 100-grain weight and days to 50% silking. Moreover, there was a highly significant and positive correlation of grain yield with number of rows per ear (r = 0.479), ear length (r = 0.381), 100-grain weight (r = 0.344) and days to 50% tasseling (r = 0.214). The highest yielding five genotypes across the seasons were TZCOM1/ZDPSYN (4.2 t/ha), EEPVAH-3 (4.2 t/ha), F2TWLY131228 (4.1 t/ha), PVA SYN6F2 (3.9 t/ha) and EEPVAH-9 (3.8 t/ha) these were needed to check the adaptability, stability and to test major maize growing areas to make sound recommendations for release.