Heterosis and Combining Ability in Intervarietal Crosses of Maize

Abstract

The combining ability and heterosis were estimated from a number of crosses comprising 10 elite varieties of Zea mays L. obtained from diverse geographical regions. 'AB male bulk' was the best general combiner for grain yield and kernel/row. Two single crosses viz AB male bulk x composite V2' and 'Hemant x CIMMYT Pool 23' significantly outyielded the standard check "Vijay Composite', and the hybrid check 'Deccan 103. for grain yield. The extent of heterosis over better parent and economic heterosis revealed that crosses which had higher estimates of heterosis for grain yield also exhibited higher estimates of heterosis for the major yield components as well.