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Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, ANGRAU-S.V. Agricultural College,Tirupati-517 502.
An investigation was conducted to assess the Combining ability for yield and its attributing traits in maize (Zea mays during rabi, 2024–25 at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati. A Line × Tester mating design was carried out for 30 inbred lines and 2 testers to evaluate the GCA and SCA effects for grain yield and associated traits. For the considered 12 traits, sca variance exceeded GCA variance for all traits except for ear length, confirming the predominance of non-additive gene action. Based on per se performance and gca effects, the lines PL 23084 and PL 23110 were identified as best general combiners for grain yield and its components. Among hybrids, PL 23100 × LM 14, PL 23090 × CML 451, and PL 23059 × LM 14 exhibited significant positive sca effects for grain yield and its components, identifying them as the best crosses for exploiting hybrid vigour. The two crosses PL 23100 × LM 14 and PL 23059 × LM 14 were identified based on the per se performance and sca effects for grain yield. These hybrids need to be further evaluated across locations and over seasons to select best hybrids for commercial exploitation.
KEYWORDS: Combining ability, non-additive gene action, line x tester mating design.