J.P.Niyonzima, T. E. Nagaraja, H. C. Lohithaswa, M. S. Uma, R. Pavan, F. Niyitanga, A. Kabayiza
Department of Crop sciences, University of Rwanda, Busogo, Rwanda
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Department of Rural development and Agricultural economics, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
Department of Rural development and Agricultural economics, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
Key words: Maize, General combining ability, Specific combining ability
Abstract
Combining ability for grain yield and its contributing characters was carried out in maize through line × tester analysis of 60 hybrids developed by crossing 15 females and four testers along with parents and checks. The 60 hybrids along with 19 parents and three standard checks were grown in Randomized Completely Block Design with two replications and were evaluated for grain yield and its 12 contributing characters. The experiments were conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V.C. Farm, Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka state during rabi 2010.The analysis of variance indicated the presence of significant variability among the genotypes for almost all the quantitative traits studied. Combing ability analysis showed the predominant role of non-additive gene action for inheritance of all the characters studied. The lines MAI31, MAI28, and MAI35 were best general combiners exhibiting high gca effects in a desirable direction for three traits each. The tester CM500 was identified as a best combiner for grain yield per plot and some other traits studied. The hybrids MAI45×CM202, MAI33×CM202 and MAI43×CM500 were promising with respect to sca effects for grain yield as they showed high sca for that trait. These best crosses involved high × low and low × low performing parental combinations. Further, the promising single cross hybrids having a parental combination of high × high, high × low gca effects could be used for the improvement of parental lines for desired characters by selecting in advanced generations.
Get the original articles in Source: Volume 7, Number 1, July 2015 – IJAAR
Journal Name: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)
Published By: International Network for Natural Sciences
Related Post: Studies on genetic variability in maize (Zea mays L.) under stress and non-stress environmental conditions – IJAAR
Download PDF
