Genetic analysis of heterosis for total crude protein and digestible dry matter in guinea grass

Diallel cross analysis for tetraploid populations revealed that only nonadditive variance played a role in the inheritance of total crude protein (TCP) and digestible dry matter (DDM) per plant in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) which indicated that crosses among sexual and apomictic clones should be attempted for improvement of these traits. Heterosis over the best parent P₃₉ ranged from -47.2 to 8.6% for TCP and from -46.5 to 20.7% for DDM, whereas heterosis over the commercial check, PGG19, varied from -18.9 to 66.9% for TCP and from -36.3 to 43.6% for DUM.