Combining ability for maize inbreds lines for yield and yield traits

Abstract

Analysis of variance showed that mean squares were highly significant for traits such as number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, number of kernels per ear, 100 kernel weight (g), kernel weight per ear (g), kernel yield per plant (g). etc. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for the traits plant height and ear height that depicts the existence of additive gene effects. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that mean squares were significant for almost all the characters. Variance due to sca was greater than gca variance for the traits viz., plant height, ear height, number of kernels row/cob, number of kernels/row, ear length, cob yield and grain yield, which indicated the preponderance of non-additive gene effects in the genetic expression of these traits. The parents/inbred lines 52099, DS-NP/R-8-42 and IC-280427 were found good general combiner. Experimental hybrids obtained with high specific combining ability (SCA) effect were DML-1336 x DS-NP/R-8-42, 52099 x DML-1336, 52327 x 52099 and 52212 x DML-1112.