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A field experiment was carried out during the 2015/2016 dry season at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal
University of Technology, Akure with the aim of evaluating growth and yield performance of ten extra-early maize hybrids
with two local checks. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design. Data collected on number of days
to 50% tasseling, number of days to 50% silking, plant height (cm), ear height (cm), number of cobs, cob length (cm), cob
girth (cm), field weight (g), 100-grain weight (g) and number of kernel rows were subjected to analysis of variance. The
hybrids differed (p ≤0.05) significantly in reproductive traits (number of days to 50% tasseling and silking) and field weight.
Heritability estimates were moderate in number of days to tasseling (32.75%) and silking (35.95%), ear height (33.43%),
field weight (35.98%) and number of kernel rows (27.66%) while other triats were low implying high environmental influence.
Field weight had positive and significant correlation with 100-grain weight (0.497), plant height (0.636) and ear height
(0.616) but had negative and significant correlations with reproductive traits. Plant and ear heights also had negative and
significant correlation with reproductive traits. Hybrid ‘TZDEEI 13 × TZEEI 79’ had the highest yield while hybrids
‘TZDEEI 7 × TZEEI 79’ was the earliest in maturity. A cross between hybrid ‘TZDEEI 13 × TZEEI 79’ and hybrid ‘TZDEEI
7 × TZEEI 79’ will lead to development of a double cross hybrid which will combine high yield and extra-earliness traits.
Key words: Hybrid; Extra-early; Variation; Correlation