Eight varieties of maize were evaluated following diallel mating design for determining
their utility as parents in the development of hybrids and/or high yielding composites. For
days to SOO/. tasselling and silking. and·l000-grainweight, variety (Vi) effects; for plant and
ear heights, ear length and diameter, both Vi and specific heterosis (Sij) effects; and for grain
yield, sll effects were the most important contributors to the total entries sum of squares.
Average heterosis di) and variety heterosis (hi) effects were not so important for any trail.
Cross between cvs. Navin and Population 26 showed significant and positive Sij effects for
grain yield, plant height, ear height and ear length. These two varieties represented a good
choice to initiate interpopulation improvement.
Keywords: Combining ability, varietal diallel, maize, heterosis.
Year: 1997
Volume: 57
Issue: 2
Article DOI: NA
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
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