Hamza et al Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (7), pp.563-568, July 2013. ISSN: 2276-7770 Research Paper Manuscript Number: 061013663 Estimates of Components of Variances for Bunch Traits in Date Palm Crosses (Phoenix dactylifera L) *1Hamza A.M., 1Okolo E.C., 2Ado S.G., 2Usman I.S. and 1 Agho Collins 1Plant Breeding Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR). P.M.B.1030 300001, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. 2Department of Plant Sciences, I.A.R., A.B.U, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author’s Email: abdulnifort @ yahoo.com Abstract: A field experiment was carried out at Nigeria institute for Oil Palm Research date palm Research substation Dutse, Jigawa state during 2004-2005 flowering season. Biparental progenies derived from 60 crosses replicated twice were subjected to analysis of variance using nested design for the purpose of estimating additives, genetic and dominance components of variances of the seven bunch traits. Significant variation was observed for the traits studied. The male components of variances (σ2m) for all the traits were negative, indicating that the estimates were not different from zero or were very small. Positive estimates were recorded for females within male variance (σ2f/m), while Non-significant negative additive variances (σ2A) were obtained for all the traits. Dominance variance (σ2D) showed significant positive values for number of fruits, spikelets, aborted fruits and unfertilized florets. Positive estimates were recorded for environmental variance (σ2e), genotypic variance (σ2g) and phenotypic variance (σ2ph). In allcases phenotypic variance was much larger than the genotypic variance. Low environmental variance were obtained for the traits indicating that the environmental condition where the experiment was carried out is homogenous and the material could perform considerably well under similar environmental conditions. The means performance of the males indicates that variability exists between the males; Males 6R3 and 1R7 are good combiners with female 12R3 for number of fruits while males 1R12 and 5R2 are good combiners with female 12R3 for number of fruits. Female 2R8 is poor general combiners for number of fruits. Males 1R12 and 5R2 are good combiners with female 1R27 for weight of fruit while male 6R3 and 1R7 are good combiners with female 12R3 for fruit weight. Recurrent and backcross selection are recommended for further date palm improvement programs. Keywords: Male variances (σ2m), female within male variances (σ2f/m), additive variances (σ2A), Dominance variance (σ2D), environment variance (σ2e), phenotypic variance (σ2ph), genotypic variance(σ2g) and bunch traits Return to Content View Reprint (PDF) (198KB)
