Vegetos

Abstract

Exploitation of heterosis has been proven as highly effective and is widely used tool to produce improved hybrids. The present study determined general combining ability (GCA) of parental lines and specific combining ability (SCA) of hybrids involving two lines, 11 testers and 22 maize hybrids. The line × tester analysis revealed the predominance of non-additive gene action in controlling yield and its contributing traits as reported in many of the cross pollinated crops. The female parent UMI 1200-7-26-1-6-1 and two testers viz., N 117 and N 90 were adjudged as the best general combiner since it showed significant positive gca effects for grain yield and 100 kernel weight. The hybrid UMI 1200-7-26-1-6-1 × N 14 exhibited highest magnitude of standard heterosis over two checks namely CO 6 and NK6240 with highly significant sca effects for grain yield and yield contributing traits. Hence the hybrid UMI 1200-7-26-1-6-1 × N 14 has to be exploited for commercial seed production programme.