Combining ability, gene action and heterosis for new yellow maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines via diallel mating design [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A half diallel set of crosses among seven new yellow maize inbred lines were done at Sakha Agric. Res., Station in 2010 summer season to get 21 single crosses to determine combining ability, gene action and heterosis. In 2011 season, those 21 crosses along the check hybrid SC173 were evaluated in replicated trails conducted at sakha and Ismailia Agric. Res: stations. Data were recorded for No. of days to 50% silking, plant and ear heights, ear length and diameter, No. of rows ear-1, No. of kernels row-1 and grain yield. Data were analyzed according to Griffing (1956) Method-4, Model-1. The results indicated that mean squares of hybrids were significant for all of the studied traits. While, the hybrids by loc interaction was significant for 50% silking, No. of rows ear-1, No. of kernels row-1 and grain yield. Variances due to general and specific combining abilities were significant or highly significant for all traits, except plant height for specific combining ability. The ratio of GCA/SCA mean squares was high and exceeded the unity for all traits, revealing that the magnitude of additive was more important than that of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. For grain yield, the crosses Gz653 x Sk9215 (36.13), Gz653 x Sk5019 (36.50) and Sk9215 x Sk5030 (35.68 ard fed-1) were significantly better than the check hybrid SC173 (31.29 ard fed-1) and increasing the useful heterosis relative to the check by 15.47, 15.05 and 14.03% for these crosses, respectively.

Summary in Arabic.

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