Combining ability studies for yield and yield components in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

In the present investigation 55 F1 maize hybrids derived by crossing eleven inbreds in half diallel fashion were evaluated to assess the nature of gene action and to estimate gca effects of inbreds and sca effects of hybrids for yield and yield components. The results revealed thatthe magnitude of sca variances (σ2sca) were higher than gca variances (σ2gca) for all the characters and also the ratio σ2gca to σ2sca was less than unity, which indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action in control of these traits. Based on gca effects, the inbreds viz., BML 7, CM 119, BML 2 and BML 51were identified as the good general combiners and based on sca effects, the hybrids viz., BML 5 × CML 124 and BML 51 × BML 5 were identified as the best specific combiners for yield and yield components.