Studies on combining ability and heterosis through line x tester analysis in maize (Zea mays l.)

The present investigation was carried out in maize to identify the best combining parents, nature of gene action and heterosis. Combining ability studies revealed non additive gene action for plant height, days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, cob length, cob girth, number of grain rows per cob, number of grains per row, 100-grain weight and grain yield per plant. Based on per se performance, the lines FC 2, G 507 and the tester Lakshmi 2277 were adjudged as the best for most of the traits. Among the hybrids, FC 2/Lakshmi 4950 and G 507/Lakshmi 2277 exhibited high sca for all the economic traits. The hybrid G 507/Lakshmi 2277 was adjudged as the best, as it possessed significant and positive heterosis for all the characters except days to 50% silking. The hybrids FC 2/Lakshmi 4950 and G 507/Lakshmi 2277 showed desirable performance based on per se performance, sca and standard heterosis for most of the economic traits and could be exploited for further crop improvement.