Performance Per Se in Cross Combinations of Ten Inbred Lines of Maize Collected from Four Locations in India*

Significant and appreciable differences were observed within maize inbred lines from various sources for height, glume colour, anther colour, silba colour, tassel type, grain type, grain colour and cob colour. The shifts in flowering period have made production of some of the specific single crosses and hybrids difficult. It is suggested that selection by various breeders in material not completely homozygous was responsible for such changes.

The lines differed in their combining ability as well. The same hybrid built up with inbred lines maintained at one location gave significantly different performance than when inbred lines from other locations were used. Parental inbred lines should therefore, be released only after they have attained complete homozygosity. They should be maintained by alternate selfing and sibbing within the regions for which the hybrid is released.