Indirect Selection Using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Analysis (BLUP) in Maize inbred lines (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

In order to evaluate and select best inbred lines of maize using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction analysis (BLUP), in addition to estimating the coefficients of genotypic and phenotypic variation, heritability, and genetic advance. The study was conducted at Abu Garash Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, during two successive growing seasons (2018 and 2019). The experiment was laid according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. There were significant differences among the investigated genotypes (inbreds) for all the studied traits, except for the anthesis-silking interval, indicating the importance of genetic variation in the expression of most traits. The values ​​of the phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) were greater than the values ​​of the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV), indicating the effect of the environmental factors on the expression of the studied traits. Results also showed that the values ​​of heritability in the broad sense (H_BS) were high in all traits except for the anthesis-silking interval, and were accompanied with high values ​​of the genetic advance (GA%) in plant height, ear height, tassel size, plant leaf area, leaf area index, leaf senescence, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen utilization efficiency, grain per ear, 100– kernel weight, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant and harvest index. The highest breeding values ​​for the grain and biological yield per plant, and harvest index were recorded by the two inbred lines IL-272-06 and IL-90-14, therefore these two inbred lines were predicted to give hybrids with high grain and biological yields.