Evaluation of maize inbred lines derived from two heterotic populations

Factorial mating analysis of eighty crosses of maize (Zea mays L.), produced by crossing five females with sixteen pollen parents, was conducted over two locations for combining ability. Mean squares due to environments (E), females (F), males (M), F X M, F X E, M X E, and F X M X E were significant for grain yield and most of the quantitative traits studied. Specific combining ability (sca) and sca x E components were of higher magnitude than general combining ability (gca) and gca x E components for grain yield, indicating greater contribution of nonadditive gene action and its pronounced interaction with the environments. Sixteen crosses significantly out yielded the best hybrid check. Some of the high yielding hybrids were short, with high harvest index and at par with the best check for silking and maturity. These studies provided possibility to obtain better hybrids which may be used in breeding programme.