GENETIC ANALYSIS FOR CROSSES AMONG LINES OF MAIZE

Abstract

A line x tester analysis involving three lines of maize (Agr183, W13R and W17.161) and six testers (OH40, IK58, IK8, ZP, DK and SH) was done. Lines, testers and crosses among them were planted using RCBDesign with three replications, and data taken for traits: plant height, upper ear height, number of leaves over upper ear, number of ears per plant, length and diameter of ear, number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, 100-grain weight and grain yield per plant. Marked significant heterosis was observed for almost all the traits examined. It was shown that additive gene action was more important in the inheritance of plant height, length of ear and 100-grain weight, and non additive one more important in the inheritance of upper ear height, number of leaves over upper ear, number of ears per plant, number of rows per ear and grain yield per plant. Among lines (W17.161) and among testers (IK8) were the best general combinors for the most of traits, and the cross (Agr183 x DK) was the best specific combinor. Broad sense heritability was high for all traits and narrow sense one was high for plant height, ear length and 100-grain weight, moderate or low for the remainder traits, while genetic advance as percent of the mean was moderate for number of ears per plant and 100-grain weight and low for the remainder traits.