Agronomic Performance of Pro-Vitamin a Enriched Top Cross Maize (zea Mays L.) Hybrids in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most important cereal in the world, not only on the basis of the number of farmers that engaged in its cultivation, but also in its economic value. The production of provitamin A maize hybrid is essential for fighting against vitamin A deficiency especially in parts of the world that rely majorly on maize as a staple food. The objectives of the study were to (i) assess the agronomic performance of the newly developed pro vitamin A enriched top cross maize hybrids, (ii) examine the relationship between measured agronomic traits (iii) To classify PVA maize hybrids based on similarity of agronomic performance, and (iv) identify superior provitamin A enriched top cross maize hybrids. Thirty two (32) provitamin A enriched top cross maize hybrids including one commercial maize hybrid used as check were evaluated under optimum growing conditions, using 8x4 alpha lattice design replicated three times at the Teaching and Research farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria in 2024. Data were collected on grain yield foliar diseases and other agronomic traits The data were analyzed and the results showed that the maize hybrids mean square were significant (P < 0.001) for all traits measured except number of ears per plant, number of days to pollen, husk cover, plant aspect, and maize streak virus. The significant variations observed indicates the existence of variability useful for selection. Grain yield of the hybrids varied between 513.33 kg/ha (M2414-20) and 6902.75 kg/ha (M2414-01). M2414-01 produced the highest grain yield (6902.75 kg/ha) followed closely by M2414-09 (6783.79 kg/ha), M2414-21 (6151.48 kg/ha) and M2414-17 (6026.40 kg/ha). Rank summation index identified top ten hybrids, M2414-03, M2414-21, M2414-04, M2414-22, M2414-13, M2414-16, M2414-15, M2414-12, M2414-14, Ife hybrid-4 with high grain yield potential, other desirable agronomic traits and tolerance to foliar diseases. These pro vitamin A maize hybrids are therefore recommended for sustainable production and can be subjected to on farm trial’s across the derived Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria before considering their release for cultivation in farmer’s fields.