Assessment of genetic variability of inbred lines and their F1- hybrids of grain maize (Zea mays L.) under drought stress conditions

Abstract This study was carried out to assess the genetic variability of seven inbred lines of grain maize (Zea mays L.) and their F1- hybrids under drought and irrigated conditions and to identify the most drought tolerance genotypes, using drought tolerance parameters. A field experiment was executed during the winter and summer of 2009 and 2010 at two locations, Shambat and Elrawakeeb (only during summer season 2010). A split-plot design with three replications was used to layout the experiment. The inbred lines and their F1-hybrids were evaluated in the field under normal (D0) irrigation and stress conditions (D1). The results showed that, drought stress caused significant reduction in yield and most of the studied characters. Significant differences were detected among the genotypes for most of the studied characters. Awide range for values of drought tolerance parameters were exhibited by the inbred lines and F1-hybrids. The F1-hybrids showed high estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance for grain yield/ha and its components. It concluded that, drought tolerance parameters were used in this studied, as most suitable in indicators for screening drought tolerant genotypes and the hybrid 160 × 405 had the highest tolerance to drought in the conditions of this study.