Combining Ability and Heterosis for Yield and Quantitative Traits in Maize, Zea mays (L.)

Combining ability analysis was conducted in late maturing maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for yield attributes. Both additive and non additive gene effects were present in the material under study. Variance due to gca was preponderant for days to 50% pollen shedding, days to 50% silk emergence, plant height, ear height, number of kernel rows, number of kernels per row and grain yield indicating importance of additive genes in controlling the traits. Three lines KML-70, KML-223 and KML-286 and two testers, KML-36 and KML-226 were good general combiners for grain yield. The crosses KML-57 x KML-226, KML-70 x KML-3, KML-70 x KML-29 and KML-286 x KML-29 are desirable with significant positive sca, heterosis and high mean values for grain yield. KML-223 x KML-3 recorded significant negative heterosis for days to 75 per cent dry husk, combined with significant negative sca and low mean performance. Hence, this hybrid could be suitable for medium maturity situations.