Performances and Genetic Parameters Estimation of Yield and Yield Related Traits in Sweet Corn Inbred Lines Selected For Better Adaptation to Organic Cropping System

ABSTRACT Limited number of sweet corn varieties specifically bred for organic cropping system has brought about the organic sweet corn growers use hybrid varieties supposedly grown under high agrochemical inputs cropping system. The objective of present study was to evaluate the performance of sweet corn inbred lines and to estimate the genetic parameters as to the development of varieties suitable for organic cropping system. Eight inbred lines of S5generation previously selected for yield and adaptability to organic conditions were evaluated in a randomized block design with seven replications. Performances and genetic parameter estimation were addressed to plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, ear length, ear diameter, kernel row number, kernel number per row, and ear yield per plant. Significant variations were found among the inbred lines for all traits studied. Similar features were also found on within the inbred line, except stem diameter showed non-significant within-line variation. Evaluation of mean values indicated that Caps 2 exhibited best general plant performances and produce reasonably high ear yield. Caps 5 produced the highest ear yield along with superior ear length, ear diameter, and kernel row number. Broad sense heritabilities (h2B) were ranged from low to moderate with the higher estimates found on ear length (0.43) and ear yield per plant (0.40). Based on the estimates of genetic advance as percent of the population mean (GAM), moderate improvement can be expected from ear length (13.37%) and ear yield per plant (20.86%) by selecting the top 5% of the inbred line populations. Keywords: sweet corn inbred lines; organic cropping system; heritability; genetic advanc