Combining ability analysis in medium maturing yellow seeded maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids

Abstract

The present investigation consisted of 36 hybrids along with 15 parents and 4 checks viz., Pratap Hybrid Maize-3, Vivek Hybrid-43, Pratap Makka -9 and HM-11, the total of 55 entries were evaluated during Kharif-2016 in randomized block design with three replications. The data was recorded on fifteen traits to study of the general and specific combining ability effects. The ratio of 2sca / 2gca was greater than over for all the traits except anthesis-silking interval, number of leaves per plant, harvest index, grain yield per plant, oil content protein content and starch content. This indicated that the preponderance of non-additive gave effects in the expression of these traits. The inbred line L10 was found good general combiners for grain yield per plant, cob girth, number of grain rows per cob, harvest index oil content and starch content, whereas the testers T3 was good general combines for yield and majority of traits viz., grain yield per plant, harvest index, oil content, protein content and starch content. The general combing ability due to additive and additive x additive gene effects. Which are the fixable component of genetic variation. Twelve hybrids showed significant positive sca effects for grain yield per plant. The maximum significant positive sca effects for grain yield per plant was depicted by hybrid L12 x T3, followed by hybrids L1 x T2, L11 x T2, L7 x T1 and L4 x T2. This was cross between average x good gca effects parents for grain yield per plant.