One hundred and forty four maize inbreds were evaluated for 15 different quantitative characters. Analysis of variance and the phentotypic range showed the availability of considerable variation for all the characters studied. The difference between PCV and GCV was very low for all the characters except Anthesis -Silking interval, cob yield/plant and grain yield/plant which showed that there was very little environmental effect on these characters. Anthesis-silking interval recorded high PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean. Characters such as grain yield/plant, cob yield/plant and ear height showed comparatively moderate PCV and GCV values, moderate to high heritability with moderate genetic gain. This shows the presence of considerable variation among the inbreds for these traits and the possibilities of improvement in these characters through selection. Days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking and number of leaves/plant showed low PCV, GCV and GA with very high heritability suggesting that there is very little scope for improving these characters by selection.
Maize, variability, heritability, genetic advance
