Combining ability for grain yield and yield attributing traits in yellow seeded maize (Zea mays L.)

Thirty six crosses of maize were developed through Line x Tester design using three testers and twelve inbred lines. These 36 crosses along with parents and four standard checks, viz., Vivek Hybrid-43, Pratap Hybrid Maize-3, Pratap Makka-9 and HM-11 were evaluated during Kharif 2016. Analysis of variance for means revealed significant differences for majority of the characters studied. The ratio of σ2sca / σ2gca was greater than one for all the traits exceptanthesis silking interval, plant height, grain yield per plant, harvest index, starch content, protein content and oil content. Among female lines EI-2523was good general combiner for plant height, grain rows per ear, grain yield per plant, ear girth, harvest index, oil content & starch content whereas among males, EI-1118 was found good general combiner for days to 50 per cent silking (-0.80), anthesis silking interval (-0.19), ear length (4.21), grain yield per plant (5.16), harvest index (0.63), oil content (0.14) and starch content (0.36). Hybrid EI-2532 x EI-1118showed highest positive significant sca effects for grain yield per plant 46.41% followed by EI-2302 x BML-6 (25.94%) and EI-2524x BML-6 (24.11%) showed significant and desirable SCA effect for most of the character studied indicating potential for exploiting hybrid vigour in breeding programme.