Selection index and selection criteria for green ear maize (Zea mays L.) over environments

Selection indices were constructed for green ear of normal field maize (Zea mays L.) utilizing fifteen important characters in three different environments separately and over environments. Comparison of three different methods of assigning weight to generate selection criteria indicated that inbred parents differed in performance in each environment. While single cross hybrid 1 x 3 was observed to be consistent over all the three environments, among other crosses 5 x 7 at Pantnagar and Almora; 3 x 7, 4 x 5 at Almora and Gorakhpur; and 3 x 4 at Pantnagar and Gorakhpur were consistent in index value for green ear characters. The behaviour of inbred parent and single cross hybrids was influenced by genotype by environment interaction as evidenced from alteration of ranking according to specific environment.