**5. Conclusions**

Six most stable aflatoxin accumulation resistant genotypes across six environments have been identified. They included MP715, NC298, MP705, MP719, CML287 and TZEEI- 24. Furthermore, it was evident from the study that traits such as cob and plant aspect correlated significantly and positively with aflatoxin accumulation levels whilst grain yield had significant negative correlation.

Genotypic effects on several traits were consistently significant across environments and that the environments used in this study were discriminatory enough to aid the identification and selection of consistent genotypes for aflatoxin accumulation resistance. Significant genotype by environment interaction aided in the identification of relatively stable genotypes for specific important agronomic and aflatoxin accumulation resistant traits. The Wards clustering method assigned genotypes into two main groups (exotic and local) based on the significant agromorphological traits including grain yield. Broad sense heritability estimates for grain yield and aflatoxin accumulation resistance were moderately high to enable permissible transfer of traits to progeny.

### **Acknowledgements**

This research was funded by USAID through the National Academies of Sciences' (NAS) programme for Partnership for enhanced engagement in Research (PEER). Grant No. Project 4-040, 2015 for "the development of high yielding aflatoxin resistant maize for improved nutrition and health in Ghana", the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement for the PhD training in Plant Breeding. We would also like to thank all the staff of Plant health and Maize Breeding Division of CSIR –Crops Research Institute Kumasi, Ghana for their support. The help of Messers Akyeampong, and Josuah Obeng and William Appaw is deeply appreciated. Special thanks to Mr. Richard Yeboah for assisting with the data collection.
