Evaluation of Inbred Lines and Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) for Tolerance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth in the Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana

Abstract

The study was conducted at the experimental field of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) to screen maize inbred and hybrid lines for Striga tolerance. Maize seeds of hybrid and inbred lines were collected from the West and Central African Maize Collaborative Network (WECAMAN), Boake, La Cote d’Ivoire, for the experiment. The experimental design used was the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with fourteen treatments replicated four times for the hybrids. For the inbred lines, there were twelve treatments replicated three times. The results of the hybrid experiment indicated that varieties including 9914-14 STR, 8425-8 STR, 9925-49 STR, 9916-11 STR, 9925-3 STR, CLH105 STR and CLH109 STR were comparatively better off than the others in terms of field weight and tolerance to Striga. For the inbred lines, the results indicated that GH110-5, 991228-1 and 991233-1 performed better than the rest of the varieties in terms of yield components such as plant height, days to 50% pollen shed, days to 50% silking and Striga plant rating. On Striga infested Agricultural lands, farmers can therefore use cultivars or varieties like, 9914-14 STR, 8425-8 STR, 9925-49 STR, 9916-11 STR, 9925-3 STR, CLH105 STR and CLH109 STR or their crosses in order to improve yield and hence maximize profit.