Department of Plant Breeding, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar
2Present addresses: Department of Plant Breeding, Agricultural College, Bapatla and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.
1Part of M.Sc. (Ag.) thesis submitted by the senior author to G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
Normal and opaque-2 versions selected from the F2 ears in seven maize crosses were compared for grain yield, 1000-grain weight, ear length, ear diameter, kernel rows per ear, kernels per row and shelling percentage in a split plot design at Pantnagar. The results indicated that the opaque-2 gene has marked effect on grain yield per plant. However, the effect of the gene was variable in different genetic backgrounds. A reduction in 1000-grain weight was observed with the incorporation of opaque-2 gene. The opaque-2 gene has no adverse effect on other yield components namely ear length, ear diameter, kernel rows per ear, kernels per row and shelling percentage.
The present investigation indicated the possibility to improve the nutritive value of maize by incorporating opaque-2 gene into specific genetic backgrounds without having undesirable effect of opaque-2 gene on yield.
