Components of variation over locations in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the principal food crop of Himachal Pradesh covering an area of about 0.31 million hectares in kharif season with an average yield of 19.9 q/ha, national average 17.21 q/ha but lower than U.S.A. in the world and China in Asia 1999 [1] challenging the maize breeders to develop suitable maize varieties/hybrids best suited under wide range of growing conditions. To achieve this goal, a breeder has to employ an efficient breeding programme which inturn will depend upon the information on different components of variation/gene action.