DIALLEL ANALYSIS OF ASH CONTENT IN TWELVE INBRED LINES OF MAIZE

We evaluated 66 inter se crosses among 12 inbred lines of maize in 2 years at two locations. The inheritance of ash content of the stalk was determined by means of diallel analysis. Significant differences in ash content among the 66 F1 hybrids were obtained. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were also statistically significant. The additive genetic variation was much larger than the nonadditive variation. Interactions of GCA and SCA with locations and with years × locations were significant. The broad sense heritability estimate for ash content of stalk was.62. The primary objective, to determine whether ash content of the stalk is positively associated with susceptibility to stalk lodging, was only partially supported. The genotypic correlation between ash content of stalk lodging was relatively low (+.280) and of little predictive value.