Combining Ability of Yellow Inbred Maize Lines by Using Diallel Cross

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Genetics department, Faculty of Agricultural Ain shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Eight parental inbred lines and their 28 crosses through the half diallel cross were used for estimation of general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities to select the best crosses for grain yield, earlier and lower ear placement. Half diallel cross mating design was carried out during the summer season of 2015 in BENI HEDER research farm of the Egyptian Agricultural Company for seed production (EGAS) Company to produce 28 yellow maize hybrids. At 2016 season, 28 hybrids (F1) and eight parents were tested in a trial using randomized complete block design with four replications, and also at 2017 season the same trial was repeated. The data was collected for ten different characters. A Griffing's method ΙΙ model ΙΙ was used to calculate the GCA and SCA effect and to estimate the genetic components. Inbred lines were evaluated, and then inbred 711 significantly contributed to the good performance of the hybrids for grain yield trait.

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