Genetics of Drought Tolerance Traits in Maize.(Zea mays L.)

The present study pertaining to the estimation of genetic parameters and characters association in forty maize genotypes was conducted in the glasshouse of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the crop season in February, 2009 at 3 moisture levels 40%, 60% and 100%. The data for various quantitative characters was recorded, statistically analyzed. The experimental material consisted of 40 maize accessions. The path- coefficients were also computed to estimate the contribution of individual characters to the fresh shoot length. Investigations regarding path coefficient showed that fresh root length had maximum direct effect on fresh shoot length at three moisture levels followed by dry root weight, root density, leaf temperature and dry shoot weight at three moisture levels. It was concluded that fresh root length, dry root weight, root density, leaf temperature and dry shoot weight are the characters which contribute largely to fresh shoot length of maize seedlings and selection can be made on the basis of these characters.