Heterosis 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. The heterosis over mid parent (MP), better parent (BP) and standard check was observed for quality traits viz., starch content, protein content and quantitative traits viz., grain yield per plant. The highest positive significant heterosis at all the three levels for starch content was exhibited by hybrid P2 x P5. This hybrid also revealed highest per se performance for this trait (66.61%). Another hybrid P2 x P6 exhibited maximum positive significant heterosis at all the three levels with highest per se performance (11.41%) for protein content. Hybrid P5 x P6 exhibited maximum economic heterosis with highest per se performance (149.00) for grain yield per plant (g).