Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Characteristics of maize parental components according to yield structure and grain quality indicators

Vitalii Prudnikov, Hanna Kovalyshyna
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Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to select maize source material capable of combining high productivity with high grain quality. In breeding processes, it is important to conduct complex studies on the morphometric traits of the ear, elements of productivity, grain filling, and the content of the main storage substances in the parental components. This study aimed to study the characteristics of the maize parental components on the basis of the elements of ear structure, grain quality parameters, and to reveal the relationships between the economically valuable traits. Field experiments were conducted during 2024-2025 in the Kyiv Region on typical low-humus chernozem soil. The experiment was arranged according to a randomised design with three replications. The studied characteristics are: weight of the ear with and without the cob, diameter and length of the ear, number of kernel rows, number of kernels per row, grain yield, 1,000-grain weight, test weight, content of proteins, starch, and oil in it. Statistical processing of the results was performed using analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Considerable phenotypic variability of the studied material was established. Ear weight with cob ranged from 30.06 g to 148.34 g, ear weight without cob from 18.48 g to 130.72 g, grain yield from 60.86% to 88.12%, and 1,000-grain weight from 174.2 g to 360.8 g. Genotype LLF 2983 was characterised by the highest values of ear weight, grain yield, and 1,000-grain weight. The highest content of proteins was revealed in LLN 2948, the highest starch content in LFH 1940×LMH 3161, and the highest oil content in LGR 2038. Correlation analysis between the studied traits showed the presence of high positive correlations between the weight of the ear, dimensions of the ear, number of kernels in the row, and grain yield. Simultaneously, multidirectional relationships were established between productivity and grain quality indicators. The practical significance of the study consists of the substantiation of promising genotypes and signs for their selection in the process of obtaining high-yield hybrids with high grain quality

Keywords

inbred lines, 1,000-grain weight, protein, starch, oil, correlation analysis

Suggested citation
Prudnikov, V., & Kovalyshyna, H. (2026). Characteristics of maize parental components according to yield structure and grain quality indicators. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 22(3),162-176. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/3.2026.162
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