Validity of Prediction Methods Under Population Stress in Composite and Varietal Hybrids in Maize (Zea Mays L.)

Studies on validity of prediction methods under population stress in composite and varietal hybrids were carried out In six synthesized, genetically broad based populations, namely, KS14C, JML305, J236, JML24, DMR1 and DMR5, under three plant densities. The correlation, between the predicted and actual values for different kind of progenies (F_1,jk F_1,jk^r and F_1,jk^s were found to be significant to highly significant in all the densities for majority of the characters. In general, there was good correspondence between actual and predicted estimates under all densities a all kinds of progenies. Predictions were fairly efficient under additive as well as nonadditive genetic situations in all the three densities. The prediction estimates in case of advance generations of selfed and random mated progenies under all densities compared so well with their actual performance that It offers an efficient method to predict the performance of advanced generations of three-way and four-way multiple varietal hybrids without actually making them. It could also be inferred that the prediction method was applicable even in the presence of considerable epistasis in different density stresses.