Heterosis and combining ability for quantitative and quality traits in maize (Zea mays L.).

A set of eight inbred lines were crossed in diallel design and developed 28 single cross hybrids. These 28 hybrids along with 8 parents and four checks were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Combining ability analysis revealed that mean squares due to gca was higher than sca for days to 50% silking, grain yield per plant and oil content, while for 100-grain weight, starch content and protein content mean squares due to sca was of greater magnitude than gca. However the ratio of σ 2 sca/2 gca was greater than one for all the traits, thereby indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene effects. Inbred lineP6 was good general combiner for days to 50% silking, 100- grain weight, grain yield per plant and protein content. Inbred line P7 and P8 were good general combiners for oil content and protein content. Hybrid P2 x P5 showed positive significant sca effects for grain yield per plant and protein content with highest estimate of sca effects and economic heterosis (3.33%) for starch content. Hybrid P6 x P7 exhibited highest positive significant economic heterosis (10.23%) along with positive significant sca effects for grain yield per plant and protein content.