Vol. 7, Issue 3 (2018)

Author(s):
Shamly Gupta and S Lata

Abstract:
A line × tester analysis involving thirty test-crosses generated by crossing ten opaque2 introgressed maize inbred lines with three diverse testers and two standard checks was conducted for different yield and nutritional traits in alpha RBD design replicated twice during kharif 2016. The objectives of this study were to examine combining ability of inbred lines, determine the nature of gene action and enhancement of nutritional traits. Genetic differences were observed from mean squares of treatments for all traits except protein content. The GCA effect revealed that the inbred lines L₇, L₈ and L₁₀ and the tester T₁ were the best general combiners for some yield and nutritional traits. On the basis of extent of heterosis and specific combining ability effects, the hybrids L₈ × T₁ and L₁₀ × T₁ were the best since both were either at par with standard check-1 (Vivek QPM-9) and standard check-2 (Palam Sankar makka-2) or significantly superior for yield and nutritional traits.