Heterosis and Combining Ability Studies for Yield and Baby Corn Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2016-07
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
Baby corn is the ear of maize plant harvested at immature (unfertilized) stage. Despite high demand and market potential, very little information is available on breeding strategies followed for improvement in baby corn. Hence, this investigation was undertaken to evaluate field corn 50 inbreds and 55 hybrids (generated from eleven lines identified for baby corn traits and five testers using line x tester design) for baby corn and grain yield traits and also to study heterosis and combining ability. PDM-24-3 and PDM-53 were superior inbreds for the baby corn traits. PDM-112-2 and PDM-56-2 were superior for grain yield and related traits. HKI-163 x BLSB-5, PDM-112-2 x BLSB-5 and CM-150-Y-1 x BLSB-5 were the superior crosses for baby corn traits. CM-136-1 x NK 6240 M-2 followed by CM-150-Y-1 x PDM-260-2 and PDM-6571 x PDM-167-1 were the superior combinations for grain yield. The combination, HKI-163 x BLSB-5 was good for both baby corn and grain yield.
Based on pooled combining ability, lines HKI-163 and PDM-112-2 and tester BLSB-5 were the excellent combiners for baby corn traits and PDM-112-2 x BLSB-5 was the best combination. For grain yield and related traits, the lines CM-136-1 and CM-150-Y-1 and tester CM-135-1 were excellent combiners. Among the hybrids CM-136-1 x NK 6240 M-2 was the best specific combination for grain yield. The superior combinations based on pooled sca value for baby corn traits, viz., HKI-163 x BLSB-5, PDM-112-2 x BLSB-5 involved the parents representing different heterotic groups based on SCA_PY (Specific Combining Ability combined line Pedigree and hybrid Yield) and HSGCA (Heterotic group’s Specific and General Combining Ability) methods.