Combining ability analysis for yield and its components in varietal crosses of maize (Zea mays L.)

Ten varieties of maize were evaluated foilowing diallel mating design for determining their utility in the development of high yielding composites/base population/or interpopulation improvement. The combining ability variances due to GCA and SCA were highly significant for the traits studied. The highest GCA effect was observed by the parent C-6 for days to silk and days to maturity, Arun for plant height and ear height, Navjote for ear girth, ear length and 100 kernel weight and parent Mansar for kernels/row and grain yield. Highest significant desirable SCA effects were observed by cross C-14 x Arun for days to silk, days to maturity and plant height; Mansar x kesari for ear height; Surya x Suwan for ear girth and C-6 x Dhawal for ear lenght, kernel rows, kernels/row, 100 kernel weight and grain yield. These four crosses were indentified as promising for possible use in developing of broad based genetic population. In general per se performance of crosses is closely related with SCA effects for grain yield. a total of eight best crosses identified for use to establish a heterotic group for yield which could be used either as improve population or as base population for the next round of improvement.