Authors:
Niyonzima Jean Pierre
, T. E. Nagaraja
, H. C. Lohithaswa
, M. S. Uma
, R. Pavan
, F. Niyitanga |
Abstract:
Estimate of heterosis experiment for grain yield and its contributing characters was carried out in
maize (Zea mays L.) through line tester mating design using 60 hybrids developed by crossing
15 inbred lines and four testers along with parents and three standard checks 30B07, NAH 1137
and NAH-2049. 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 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V. C. Farm, Mandya,
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka state, India, during Rabi 2010. The
results on heterosis studies indicated marked variations in the expression of relative mid-parent,
better-parent and standard heterosis for grain yield and its contributing characters. The
manifestation of mid-parent heterosis for grain yield per plot ranged from 16.50 to 361.16 %
while for better parent heterosis ranged between -44.98 to 310.29 per cent. The standard
heterosis over 30B07, NAH-1137 and NAH-2049 ranged from 22.39 to 142.29%, 43.68 to
75.81% and 35.80 to 100.00%, respectively. Among 60 crosses, 12 showed significant standard
heterosis over best check NAH-1137 in the positive direction of which MAI45 CM202
recorded maximum heterosis (75.81%). Considering per se performance grain yield standard
heterosis more than 20%, as well as significant sca effects for major grain yield contributing
characters, the crosses MAI45 CM202, MAI33 CM202, MAI27 CM202, MAI48
MAI105, MAI29 CM202 and MAI28 CM500 which are superior to the recently released
single cross hybrid NAH-1137 were most promising combinations. They have to be evaluated
across locations and seasons for future release. |
