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Study of Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize

Asgar Ahmed
Scientific Officer
Plant Breeding Division, BARI, Gazipur

Afsana Hoque Akhi
Scientific Officer
Plant Breeding Division, BARI, Gazipur

A.N. Md. Sajedul Karim
Scientific Officer
Plant Breeding Division, BARI, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The variances for general combining ability (GCA) were found significant for yield, days to pollen shedding, days to silking and ear height while it was found non-significant for plant height and no. of kernels/ear. Non-significant GCA variance for plant height and no. of kernels/ear suggests that these two traits were predominantly controlled by non- additive type of gene action. Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for all the characters except yield and days to silking. Non-significant SCA variance for yield and days to silking suggests that these two traits were predominantly controlled by additive type of gene action. Only in days to pollen shedding and ear height both GCA and SCA variances were found significant indicated the presence of additive as well as non additive gene effects for controlling the traits. However, relative magnitude of these variances indicated that additive gene effects were more prominent for all the characters studied except days to silking. Parent P₇was the best general combiner for both high yield and earliness and parent P₁for dwarf plant type. Two crosses (P₁ X P₂and P₄ X P₆) exhibited significant and positive SCA effects for grain yield. The range of heterosis expressed by different crosses was from -65.83 to 21.26 percent and –17.85 to 8.22 percent, respectively, for grain yield and days to silking. The better performing three crosses (P₄ X P₆_, P₅ X P₇ and P₆ X P₇) can be utilized for developing high yielding hybrid varieties as well as for exploiting hybrid vigour.

Keywords: Combibining ability, Heterosis, Maize, GCA, SCA

Location: Plant Breeding Division, BARI, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-00-2012

End Date: 00-00-2013

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Maize

Objectives:

To determine the better general combining parents and for isolating good cross combinations in maize for evolving suitable hybrid(s) locally.

Methodology:

Seven inbred lines of maize viz. P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅, P₆ and P₇ collected from CIMMYT- Mexico, CIMMYT-ARMP, and locally developed were crossed in all possible combinations (excluding reciprocals) in the rabi season of 2012-2013 at Joydebpur. During rabi 2013-2014, the 21 F₁s and along with 3 commercial hybrids were grown following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications in the same farm on 24 November 2013. Each plot comprised of 2 rows 5.0 m long. Spacing adopted was 75 cm × 20 cm between rows and hills, respectively. Intercultural operation and fertilizer were applied as recommend dose. Data on days to 50% pollen shedding and silking were recorded on whole plot basis. Ten randomly selected plants were used for recording observations on plant height and ear height. The combining ability analysis was carried out following Model I and Method IV by R software.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2013-14, Plant Breeding Division, BARI, page: 65-71

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget: Twenty thousand taka only

Total Budget (Tk.) : Twenty thousand taka only

Achievement/Findings:

Analysis of variances for combining ability revealed that variances for general combining ability (GCA) were significant for yield, days to pollen shedding, days to silking and ear height while it was found non-significant for plant height and no. of kernels/ear. Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for all the characters except yield and days to silking. For grain yield, parent P₇ showed significant and positive GCA effects. In addition to grain yield, parent P₇ was also good general combiner for days to pollen shedding and no. of kernels/ear. Parent P₁, P₂ and P₇ showed significant and negative GCA for days to pollen shedding. Parent P₁ exhibited significant and negative GCA effect both for plant and ear height. Regarding number of kernels ear^-1, two parents viz. P₅ and P₇showed significant and positive GCA effect for this trait. For 1000-kernel weight, the GCA effect was found significant for the parents P₂ and P₆. These two parents are expected to contribute towards increasing the kernel size. For grain yield two crosses (P₁ X P₂and P₄ X P₆) exhibited significant and positive SCA effects for grain yield. Two crosses (P₁ × P₄, P₃ × P₅) exhibited significant and negative SCA effects both for plant and ear height. For grain yield plant^-1 only 3 crosses showed significant and positive heterosis over the standard check variety NK-40 which was found in the range of -65.83 to 21.26 %. Except one cross (P₁ × P₄) rest of the crosses showed significant and positive heterosis for number of kernels ear^-1. Out of 21 F₁^’s, only one cross (P₂ × P₆) expressed significant and positive heterosis for 1000-kernel wt.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings