COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS FOR DIFFERENT YIELD COMPONENTS IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.) INBRED LINES

Abstract

The  present  study  was  carried  out  to  determine  the  combining  ability  of  yield and yield components by crossing six diverse maize  inbred lines in a half diallel mating design. Fifteen F₁ progenies along with their six parents were planted in randomized complete block design with three replications. GCA to SCA ratios were less than one for plant height, cob diameter, cob length and number of kernels row/cob indicating a preponderance of additive over non additive gene action. The crosses P₁×P₂, P₃×P₅ and P₅×P₆ were exhibited significant and positive SCA effects for yield and cob diameter, number of row/cob and number of grains/cob of yield contributing characters. The parents P₁ (IL₄), P₃ (IL₁₈)and P₅ (IL₂₃ were good general combiner for grain yield and yield attributing characters. It can be concluded that these parental lines can be desirable parents for hybrids as well as for inclusion in breeding program, since they may contribute favorable alleles in the synthesis of new varieties.