Estimation of magnitudes of heterosis for grain yield and yield contributing traits of conventional maize (Zea mays L.) single cross hybrids

This study was initiated with the objective of estimating magnitude of heterosis of selected conventional maize inbred lines. Ten elite inbred lines were selected based on over per se performances. The crosses were done in a 10 x 10 half-diallel mating design to produce 45 F1 single crosses hybrids during 2016. The experiment was conducted at Bako National Maize Research Center in 2017 main cropping. The experimental material consisted of 45F1 single crosses and three standard checks with a total of 48 genotypes. The quantitative agronomic data were recorded following standard protocols of CIMMYT. Percent of mid-parent (MP), better parent (BP) and standard heterosis was estimated for agronomic traits that revealed significant under analysis of variance. Maximum percent of mid-parent (240.34%), better parent (220.85%) and standard heterosis of 18.79% were detected for grain yield. Crosses of L1 x L4, L1 x L5 and L2 x L4 showed significant heterosis over the best two standard checks for grain yield. Key words: Heterosis, economic heterosis, grain yield, maize