Combining ability studies for grain yield and yield contributing characters in maize (Zea mays L.)

Combining ability studies were conducted on grain yield and yield contributing characters in a L x T design in maize. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for gca and sca effects for 12 traits studied. Among parents KI-109 and CM-104 were poor general combiners for grain yield and KI-109, AML-420 and CM-131 were found to have negative gca effects for days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking and days to maturity. The inbreds DMR-201, CM-119 and CM-121 were found to be good general combiners for grain yield per plant. The crosses CM-104 x KI-109, CM-105 x KI-109, CM-115 x KI-109, CM-120 x DMR-201, CM-121 x DMR-40E, CM-121 x AML-420, CM-130 x DMR-201 and CM-131 x DMR-201 were found to have significant negative sca effects for days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking and days to maturity. The crosses CM-115 x DMR-201, CM-118 x DMR-201, CM-119 x DMR-201 and CM-121 x DMR-201 had positive sca effects for plant height, ear height, ear length, ear girth, number of seed rows per ear, number of seed rows per row, number of seeds per ear, 100-seed weight and grain yield per plant.