Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines

The present study was framed to determine the combining ability and the extent of heterosis in maize using line × tester design at maize section, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur. Crosses were made involving ten lines and three testers in Rabi, 2019-20 for the study. 30 Crosses along with 13 parents and 2 checks were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications during kharif, 2020. The hybrids DHM 117 and SHM 1 were used as checks. Data were recorded on 13 morphological traits. The contribution of lines is found to be greater than that of the testers for most of the characters studied. On the basis of GCA effects, the lines VL109476, VL109475, VL1010848, VL109479 and tester VP15295 were identified as good combiners for grain yield, whereas the line VL1017524 and the tester SML-1 were also identified as good combiner in terms of earliness. These can be used as parents in multiple hybridization programme. On the basis of SCA effects, the crosses VL109476 x V P15295, VL1010763 x VP15295, VL1018419 x VP15295 and VL109475 x SML-1 were identified as good specific combiners for grain yield, whereas on the basis of standard heterosis VL109476 x V P15295, VL1010763 x VP15295, VL109475 x SML-1 and VL109479 x SML-1 were superior to the better check in grain yield. The identified hybrids may be tested on large scale multi-location trial and in farmers’ field before commercial utilization.