Estimation of Heterosis, Combining Ability, and Gene Action Using Diallel Analysis for some Inbred Lines of Yellow Maize

Abdel-Moneam, M. A.; Sultan, M. S.; Khalil, A. M.; El-Awady, Hend E.

doi:10.21608/jpp.2024.274077.1314

Estimation of Heterosis, Combining Ability, and Gene Action Using Diallel Analysis for some Inbred Lines of Yellow Maize

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Agronomy Dept., Fac. of Agric., Mansoura Univ. Egypt

² Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt.

³ Maize Research Section, Field Crop Research Institute, ARC, Egypt.

⁴ Seed Technology, Field Crop Research Institute, ARC, Egypt.

10.21608/jpp.2024.274077.1314

Abstract

A half-diallel cross among five yellow maize inbred lines was made in 2019. Parental inbred lines and F₁ crosses along with three yellow commercial hybrids were evaluated to research the best parental inbred lines that give better hybrids and create high-yielding new yellow single crosses. Mean squares of genotypes, parents, crosses, and parents against crosses were shown to be significant or extremely significant. Both general and specific combining ability mean squares were significant or highly significant for most of the studied traits, suggesting that the inheritance of these qualities was influenced by both additive and non-additive forms of gene effects. For every characteristic under investigation, the GCA/SCA ratio was less than unity, suggesting that non-additive genetic influences were more significant and largely responsible for the inheritance of every traits under investigation. The best combiners were: Inb-27, Inb-69 and Inb-309 for silking date and plant height; Inb-27 for ASI and ear leaf area; Inb-309 for Kernels/ear; and Inb-69 and Inb-309 ear yield plant^-1. The most effective cross-combinations were: five crosses for silking date and eight crosses for ears yield/plant. All studied crosses manifested positive and highly significant heterosis over mid and better parents (ranged from 49.06% for cross P1 X P2 to 651.54% for cross P1 X P4 over mid parents and from 32.12% for cross P1 x P2 to 529.70% for cross P1xP4 over better parent. Therefore, it can be recommended to use the P1×P4 hybrid in the yellow maize breeding program to increase productivity and earliness.

Keywords