Identification, Nomination and Release of Early Maturing Stress Tolerant Maize Variety in Nigeria
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Date
2022
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Publisher
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
Identifying promising early maize varieties that combine high-yielding properties with tolerance/resistance to the prevailing abiotic/biotic stress factors is one of the steps in improving
maize production in Nigeria’s savannah. This study was conducted to identify and nominate an early maturing yellow open-pollinated maize variety with combined resistance/tolerance to Striga, drought, and low-N for registration and release in Nigeria. Twenty-five open-pollinated maize varieties including the local check varieties were evaluated at Ilorin (Kwara State) in an on-station trial in 2017. Eleven varieties were selected and reevaluated under Striga and non-Striga-infested conditions (Mokwa and Abuja), drought and non-drought conditions (Ikenne), The outstanding varieties were later evaluated in on-farm trials at Apata in Oyo State, Mokwa and Lapai in Niger State, Ballah and Omu Aran in Kwara State, in 2020. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications per location. The trials were planted in two-row plots, 5 m in length, with 0.75 m spacing between rows, 0.25 m spacing between hills, and an intra-row spacing of 0.40 m. Data were collected for days to anthesis /silking, ear height, plant height, ear aspect, plant aspect, grain yield, and foliar diseases. All data were subjected to analyses of variance using SAS software. The stability of the varieties across the locations was done with genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The evaluation results in 2018 and 2019 show that DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 had a yield advantage of 35%, 9%, and 15% over the reference check and 7%, 6%, and 6% over the local check variety, respectively, under Striga, non-Striga, and both conditions. Under drought and well-watered conditions, DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4
F2 out yielded 28 as well as 5% higher than the reference check, respectively, while the local check out yielded 6% more. DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 had a yield advantage of 7 and 14% over the local check in low and high soil nitrogen, respectively, while in high soil N, DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 had a yield advantage of 18% over the local check. The results of three states' on-farm trials revealed that the variety DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 (4.6 t/ha) out-yielded the farmer's variety and the reference check by 15% and 19%, respectively. The GGE biplot analysis revealed that DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 was the most stabilised with high grain yield values in the test environments. The cost-benefit ratio of DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 was higher than that of the reference check and the farmer's varieties, implying that the resource-constrained farmer will see higher returns on his investment. DTE STR-Y Syn Pop C4 F2 (ILO-MAZ 1) an open-pollinated variety with tolerance to drought and low N, resistant to Striga performed well in terms of yield and agronomic features in both on-farm and on-station trials, it is therefore proposed for registration and release in Nigeria.
Description
Keywords
Maize, Grain yield stability, open-pollinated, Striga resistance, On-farm trial
Citation
Bankole F., Olaoye G., Oyekunle M., Olakojo S., Takim F.O., Omotesho K. and Ayinde O.E (2022). Identification, Nomination and Release of Early Maturing Stress Tolerant Maize Variety in Nigeria. Centrepoint Journal (Science Edition). Vol 28, 40-59. Published by the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. http://www.unilorin.edu.ngcentrepoint