Populations of Exotic × Locally Adapted Germplasm - A Potent

Experimental indigenous maize hybrids were evaluated in a series of three maize experiments during 2011, 2012 and 2013 to identify superior hybrids for commercial cultivation. Parental inbred lines of these hybrids were obtained from various indigenous populations, including a new improved maize population PSEV-3 which developed by the crossing of a locally adapted variety to an exotic hybrid obtained from CIMMYT and improved through S1 progeny recurrent selection. Two popular commercial hybrids namely, Babar insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Public sector hybrid); and one Pioneer hybrid i.e., P-3025 were included as check genotypes. Results revealed that experimental PESV-3 derived hybrids revealed better performance by comparing with three check hybrids for grain yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(11.35 vs. 8.13 t ha-1, 10.67 vs. 9.60 t ha-1, and 11.69 vs. 11.20 t ha-1);, thousand grain weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(372 vs. 338 g, 370 vs. 322 g, and 416 vs. 396 g);, shelling % insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(87 vs. 86.2%, 86 vs. 85%, and 87 vs. 90%); and days to flowering insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(66.3 vs. 73.6 days, 64 vs. 67 days, and 69 vs. 68 days);, respectively in three experiments. Three most superior hybrid combinations developed through exotic × locally adapted germplasm were found too much responsive and suggested their further testing through on-farm trials before releasing as commercial hybrids.