Evaluation of CIMMYT three-way experimental maize hybrids developed using provitamin A single crosses and quality protein inbred lines.

Abstract

Provitamin A single cross by quality protein (PVTA x QP) three-way maize hybrids developed by CIMMYT were evaluated for their grain yielding abilities, yield stability and days to 50 % anthesis. The objective of the study was to identify provitamin A single cross x quality protein (PVTA/QP) three-way hybrids that combine high grain yield and superior performance for other agronomic traits under optimal (OPT) and random heat stress (RHS). The trial consisted of sixty-five (65) hybrids planted at two optimally managed locations (ART Farm and RARS) and one random heat stress (RHS) location (CIMMYT-Muzarabani) during the 2018-19 rainy season. An alpha (0.1) lattice design with two replications was used to evaluate the hybrids. The hybrids were in 13 incomplete blocks, with a block size of five, in each of the two replications. CIMMYT experimental hybrid entry 24 was the best performing genotype (in terms of grain yield and stability) among the experimental hybrids evaluated under optimal, random heat stress conditions and across all locations. Entries that demonstrated high grain yield from the five single cross groups should be further tested in environments that represent farmer‟s environments (characterized by: different abiotic and biotic stresses, for example low nitrogen, low phosphorus, random drought, insect and diseases pressure). Nutrient analysis to quantify the provitamin A carotenoids quantities and quality protein content (tryptophan, lysine) for the identified high performing (entries that recorded the highest grain yield) entries should be carried out especially for the provitamin A single cross group C (PVTA-SXC). Keywords: Grain yield, maize, provitamin A, quality protein, stability, three-way hybrid.