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*Corresponding Author: K. Krishnam Raju,
Discovery of maize mutants in the mid-1960s containing the opaque-2 gene which enhances levels of lysine and tryptophan in the endosperm protein opened a new era in breeding for improvement of quality in maize.
The present study aimed to perform a generation mean analysis of two quality protein maize (QPM) (Zea mays L.) crosses CML332 × CML145 and CML167 × CML330 during zaid, 2023 P.G Research Farm, MSSSoA, Paralakhemudi. To, determine the genetic effects along with nature of gene action.
Dominance variance showed more importance than additive variance and the presence of duplicate form of non-allelic gene interaction was prevalent for all the characters studied except days to 50% tasseling in CML332 × CML145 and catalase in CML167 × CML330 which showed complementary gene action. Characters with duplicate gene interactions, grain yield per plant in CML167 × CML330 and number of kernels row-1 in CML332 × CML145 showed strong dominance and dominance × dominance gene interaction. Selection could be rewarding for consecutive populations followed after bi-parental mating design to improve these traits.
Additive and dominance effect, Generation mean analysis, Non-allelic interactions, Quality protein maize