Combining Ability Analysis in a Maize Diallel

Combining ability analysis was carried out in an 8X8 maize diallel for days to silk, plant height, cob placement, kernel rows/cob, kernels/row, cob length, cob girth, 1000-grain weight, grain yield/plant, and stover yield/plant. The inbreds used in the crossing programme were CM 104, CM 105, CM 110, CM 111, CM 300, CM 400, CM 500, and Inbred NLD Composite. Mean squares due to gca, sca and reciprocals were highly significant for all the 10 characters. The general predictability ratio indicated that the progeny performance was based on both gca and sca. The inbred CM 500 is a good general combiner for maximum number of characters (5), followed by CM 105 and CM 110 (each for 3 characters). The cross CM 500×CM 400 showed significant desirable sca effects for 7 out of total 10 characters, followed by CM 111×CM 400, which is a good specific combiner for 6 characters. On tbe basis of sca effects, there was a good association between grain yield and 1000-grain weight, cob girth, kernel rows/cob and stover yield.