MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF INDIGENOUS AND HYBRIDS MAIZE GENOTYPES COMMONLY CULTIVATED IN SOURTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA AGRO-ECOLOGY OF NIGERIA
The research was conducted to analyse the morphological characteristics of some indigenous as well as hybrid maize genotypes, commonly grown in the Southern Guinea Savannah Agro-ecology of Taraba state. Ten maize genotypes comprising of six hybrids (Sammaz 52, Sammaz 53, Sammaz 16, Sammaz15, Sammaz 17 and Sammaz 51) as well as four landraces; Chipyan-Nyonyo (CN), Chipyan-Mbumbu (CM), Zapkpa-Fyen (ZF) and (Zakpakan). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. At anthesis, pollination was controlled in order to prevent indiscriminate pollination. Data collected on morphological and yield traits were statistically analyzed, with the mean separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% probability level indicated significant differences among the ten genotypes with respect to the traits measured, where CN recorded the least number of days to tasselling (53.50 ), silking (57.28), physiological maturity (75.00), height at maturity (1.78m) and ear heights (70.56cm). However, highest values for ear weight with husk (159.89g) and ear weight without husk (130.39g) were recorded by Sammaz 16, while the highest value for number of kernel per row (30.78) was obtained in Sammaz 15. It was concluded, that, Chipyan-nyonyo may be recommended for selection in maize improvement programmes for earliness and moderate height at maturity. Also Sammaz 16 and Sammaz 15 are recommended for improvement programmes targeted at yield and kernel size in maize.
Keywords: Morphology, Maize, landraces, hybrids, Agro-ecology
