Analysis on Combining Ability of Inbred Lines from 2 Synthetic Maize Populations

In order to investigate the breeding potentiality of 20 newly inbred lines obtained from 2 synthetic corn populations named P1 and P2,which were test-crossed with 4 local normal maize inbred lines in a NCII mating design. Combining ability and heterosis of 20 newly inbred lines were analyzed in this test. The results showed that the inbred lines P2-6,P1-1,P1-5 and P2-7 had a good performance in GCA of yield and related traits,which should have high use potential in maize breeding programs. The cross K169 × P2-5 had the highest SCA effects. Most of hybrids with control heterosis 8% for yield were the crosses between newly inbred lines and the testers K169 and Nan 789-2,which suggested that it was more possible to obtain high field hybrid combinations.