Combining ability for grain yield and its components in exotic white seed colour maize (Zea mays L.) under rainfed environment

The material from a 10 x 10 half diallel crosses (excluding reciprocals) involving white seeded exotic maize inbreds was raised under rainfedcondition. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences for GCA and SCA effects for ten characters studied. Among the parents, CML-369 CML-368 were found to have negative GCA effect for days to 50% silking and days to maturity. Parent CML-367 was found to have highest significant and negative GCA effect for plant height and ear height and highest positive significant for ear girth, ear length and 100 kernel weight. The best general combiner Parents for grain yield were CML-78 and CML-311. The four cross combinations. CML-78 x CML-369, CML-368 x CML-311, CML-78 x CML-311 and CML-371 x CML-374 were found to have highly significant and positive SCA effects for grain yield and other polygenic traits viz. ear girth, ear length, kernel/rows, kernel rows/ear and 100 kernel weight. The cross CML-375 x CML-373 was found to have highest significant negative SCA effect for days to 50% silk and days to maturity.