Development of a maize breeding programme in Zambia. II - Evaluation of introduced material and formation of Zambia Composite Z
Abington, J.B.
Tropical Agriculture 52(1): 39-45
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3216 Document Number: 310776
The evaluation of introduced material by test crossing to a local variety has been shown to be effective in identifying varietal hybrids with a yielding ability comparable to the single and double cross hybrids currently available in Zambia. In a trial involving two single cross hybrids, two double cross hybrids and two variety cross hybrids, the standard single cross hybrid SR52 yielded significantly more than all the other entries. In a second trial, the variety hybrid Ecuador 573 X ZCA yielded significantly more than SR52 and a further five variety hybrids did not differ significantly in yield from SR52. The yields in a third trial of variety cross hybrids involving Bajio S1 lines, East African composite varieties and Zambia Composite A, were not significantly different from that of SR52. On the basis of these results, Zambia Composite Z was made up using 44 Bajio lines plus a further four varieties. However, further selection is required to improve the composite.