SELECTION OF EARLY MATURING MAIZE INBRED LINES FOR HYBRID PRODUCTION USING MULTIPLE TRAITS UNDER STRIGA-INFESTED AND STRIGA-FREE ENVIRONMENTS

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.is a major biotic constraint to increased maize (Zea mays L.) produc- tion and productivity in West and Central Africa (WCA). Twenty-three early maize inbreds were evaluated under artificial Striga infestation and Striga-free conditions at 2 locations for 2 years in Nigeria to identify the most appro- priate traits for selecting Striga resistant inbreds, and iden- tify candidate parents for hybrid production and intro- gression of resistant genes into maize populations. GGE biplot analysis was used to facilitate selection of inbreds on the basis of multiple traits, including Striga-resistance, yield and several other agronomic traits. The results of the genotype-by-trait (GT) biplot analysis revealed TZEI 3 as the best inbred for use as source of Striga resistance genes for introgression into white-endosperm breeding populations. Similarly, inbreds TZEI 3, TZEI 2, TZEI 11, and TZEI 15 were identified as potential inbred parents for the production of Striga-resistant hybrids based on both GT biplot and multi-trait selection tools. Striga dam- age rating at 8 and 10 WAP, ear aspect and ears per plant were the best traits for indirect selection for yield under infested conditions while plant height, ear height, ear and plant aspects were the best under non-infested condi- tions.