Agronomic Diversity of Short-Statured Adlay Selections (SSAS) at Gen5

Abstract

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) is a high value and climate-change resilient crop, considered as complementary to rice. However, most varieties are tall and therefore, prone to lodging. Thus, the development for short-statured adlay is of great need. This study determined the agronomic characteristics of 18 SSAS under Musuan conditions. Results revealed that the genotypes differed in all parameters, as per ANOVA. Seedlings germinated at 6–9 days after planting (DAP), flowered at 89.67-103.67 DAP, and matured at 160-181 DAP. Plant height at maturity was 115.17-176.13 cm where, five SSAS were <120 cm, namely: Gi 7-3-8 (T1), Gi 5-2-3 (T3), Gi 11-3-5 (T4), Gi 5-1-2 (T5) and Gi 3-1-1 (T9). Weight of 1000 seeds ranged from 82.25-118.47 g whereas, grain yield was 1,579-2,845 kg ha-1. Nine of 18 SSAS yielded more than 2,000 kg ha-1. Standardized Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index estimated high allelic diversity for six traits (H’=0.76-0.99): days to flowering, plant height at maturity, number of grains per panicle, weight of 1000 seeds, and grain yield that would enable selection for the more desirable phenotypes to be advanced to Gen6. SSAS for evaluation in the next generation will be primarily selected based on plant height and yield potential.