Genetic Analysis Of Progenies From Diallel Crosses Among Eight Varieties Of Different Maturity Groups Of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

📄 Project Abstract

A full-diallel cross comprising eight varieties belonging to four different maturity groups was developed and studied for fifteen characters to determine general and specific combining ability (GCA,SCA), nature of gene action of parents and hybrids, and heterosis. Eighty one genotypes comprising the crosses, reciprocals, selfs, parents and nine checks were evaluated at Kadawa under irrigation in two different environments (sowing dates). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for GCA and SCA, indicating presence of additive as well as non-additive gene action. In both environments, the GCA mean squares were highly significant and higher than the SCA mean squares for all traits except cob diameter at environment one, and four traits at environment two. The study revealed significant GCA x environment interaction indicating different parental varieties behaved differently under different environments, hence there is need to select different parental varieties for hybrid pr...