Heterosis for nutritional quality and yield in conventional and non-conventional hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.)

A set of 12 lines were crossed with three testers viz., CD(W) pool, CIMMYT-66 x X-2 W-4001, a single cross hybrid and SLT-11, an inbred line and developed 16 conventional and 20 non-conventional hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.). These 36 hybrids along with 15 parents and 4 checks were evaluated in four environments in randomized block design with three replications. The heterosis over mid parent (W), better parent (BP) and standard check (SC) was observed for seed oil content, starch content and grain yield per plant. The highest positive significant heterosis at all the three levels was exhibited by the non-conventional hybrid L10 x T-1 - VC for oil content and grain yield per plant. This hybrid also revealed highest per se performance for oil content (7.02%) and grain yield per plant (76.25 g/pl). Another non-conventional hybrid L-4 x T-1 - DTC exhibited maximum positive significant heterosis at all the three levels with highest per se performance (67.02%) for starch content.