EVALUATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR REPRODUCTIVE AND PRODUCTION ABILITY AMONG MAIZE LANDRACES (Zea mays L.) IN KOSOVA

Kosovo has an area of 10,889 km2 or 1,185 million ha, from this area 430.000 ha are forested or 39% and 577,000 ha are agricultural land or 52%. Maize is one of the most important crops in Kosovo, in the past, were planted more than 100,000 ha. Currently planted area with maize landraces is only 5 to 8.42%, from 70 to 80.000 ha, other areas planted with maize hybrids. A study has been conducted in order to evaluation maize landraces originating from different regions of Kosova. In this study are presented value for different quantitative traits for production and reproductive ability of different maize landraces. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD), and Split-plot method, with three replications. In our research, the largest variability of different maize landraces and treatments, was found for the production ability parameters: yield (Y ha-1), grain weight per ear (GWE), ear weight (EW), number of grain per ear (NGE) and weight of 100 grain (GW-100grain), from 62, 67 to 82, 23%, whereas for the other parameters was found minimal differences from 12,7 to 36,22%. Results show for a high significant (LSDp0.01) differences for maize landrace, years and for production and reproduction traits ability. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient among different parameters is positive and highly significant, except for NRE/EL that is negative. Observed values are important and represent sources of genes for specific traits with interest for plant breeding researches and maize production as food for human consumption.