Heterosis Study for Grain Yield, Protein and Oil Improvement in Selected Genotypes of Maize (Zea Mays L)

The extent and nature of heterosis was studied at College of Agricultural farm; Rajendranagar for thirteen important characters in Line x Tester mating design comprising of twenty four crosses from 6 lines and 4 testers in maize (Zea mays L.). It was carried out under irrigated condition in 2002-2003 using randomized block design with three replications. The results of this study indicated that the occurrence of non additive gene action for grain yield, oil and protein. B-QPM-117x B-QPM-128 was the only hybrid that recorded positive and highly significant standard heterosis for grain yield over DHM-105 with a value of 31.95%. Hence this cross can be a good substitute over the check DHM-105. Though it was not significant only hybrid B-QPM-114x B-QPM-118 showed the highest positive standard heterosis for oil content with the value of 0.71% and for grain yield per plot with value of 20% over the check Mandhuri. However, all the other crosses gave negative and significant standard heterosis for oil and protein contents over this check. This hybrid can be considered to improve oil content. Heterobeltiosis studies revealed that the five hybrids showed positive and significance performance for grain yield. Further three hybrids recorded positive and significant heterobeltiosis for protein content.