International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science

Vol. 6(2), pp. 520-526, June, 2019. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 2167-0449

Research Article

Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea

mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
Ali Abdikadir Hassan1*, Abubakar Ali Jama2, Omar Hassan Mohamed3, Bhabendra Kumar Biswas4
1,4Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology
University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
2Faculty of Agriculture, Zamzam University, Mogadishu, Somalia
3Department of Fisheries Management, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur,

Bangladesh

In the present study, six diverse maize inbred lines were crossed in all possible combinations
without reciprocals by using a half diallel mating design to obtain 15 single crosses. Inbred
parents and their F1 single crosses with a check were evaluated to assess the role of general and
specific combining ability and heterosis for some quantitative traits. Significant general
combining ability variances was observed only for cob height and number of kernels per row and
specific combining ability variances were observed for plant height, cob length, Number of kernel
rows per cob, number of kernels per row, number of kernels per cob, cob weight, thousand grain
weight and grain yield per plant. The GCA/SCA ratio was less than unity for all studied traits.
Based on GCA estimates, it could be concluded that the best combiners were ML10, ML14 and
ML15 inbred lines for most of the studied traits. This result indicated that these inbred lines could
be considered as good combiners for improving these traits. Significant positive SCA effects were
found for all studied traits. Based on SCA effects, it could be concluded that the crosses,
ML06×ML10, ML10×ML15, and ML15×ML17 could be exploited by the maize breeders to increase
maize yield. Three F1 hybrids such as ML06×ML10, ML10×ML15, and ML15×ML17 proved to be
the outstanding hybrids to immediate further steps for commercial cultivation. Conclusively, the
F1 hybrid, ML15×ML17 was the best combination as evaluated through combining ability and
standard heterosis.

Keywords: Zea mays; Inbreed lines; heterosis; general combining ability; specific combining ability

INTRODUCTION

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important cereal crops
and occupies a prominent position in global agriculture
after wheat and rice. According to World Data Atlas, global
maize production was 1134 million tons in the year 2017.
Subtly and silently maize, also known as corn, has
emerged as the most important cereal crop after rice in
Bangladesh, relegating wheat to third. Country’s annual
maize output reached the new high of 2.75 million tons in
2016-17 and 90 percent of the home-grown maize is
feeding a burgeoning poultry and fish feed industry (BBS,
2018). Maize being a C4 type plant, is physiologically more
efficient, has higher grain yield. It provides food, feed,
fodder, fuel and serves as a source of basic raw material
for a number of industrial products viz., starch, oil, protein,
alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, cosmetics and bio-
fuel etc. It is a versatile crop with wider genetic variability
and able to grow successfully throughout the world
covering tropical, subtropical and temperate agro-climatic
conditions. Maize acreage and production have an
increasing tendency with the introduction of hybrids due to
its high yield potential (Izhar and Chakraborty, 2013).
Knowledge of genetic architecture of the characters is
essential for adopting appropriate breeding procedure.
Such knowledge leads the plant breeder to develop new
commercial varieties of the crop. A sound breeding
*Corresponding Author: Ali Abdikadir Hassan,
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of
Agriculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and
Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
E-mail: aahassan.hstu@gmail.com

Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
Hassan et al. 521
programme provides the opportunity to produce high
yielding varieties of a crop. However, the development of
meaningful breeding programme needs information on the
nature of gene actions controlling the yield and yield
contributing characters (Tewachew et al., 2018). Stressed
that information on variation attributable to genetic
differences and also on the relationship among various
quantitative traits is fundamentally significant in a crop
improvement programme. Inbred lines are prerequisite for
hybrid development in maize. Combining ability is an
important aspect of hybrid breeding programme and its
analysis is of special importance in cross-pollinated crops
like maize as it helps in identifying potential parents that
can be used for producing hybrids and synthetics (Uddin
et al., 2008; Talukder et al., 2016). Over the years, the
combining ability concept has become increasingly
important not only in maize but in other crops as well.
Combining ability studies are more reliable as they provide
useful information for the selection of parents in terms of
performance of hybrid (Amiruzzaman et al., 2010). It helps
to get idea about the nature of gene action for a particular
character (Uddin et al., 2008; Astereki et al., 2017). This
information is also useful to breeder for selection of diverse
parents and hybrid combinations. Diallel cross analysis
provides the estimates of genetic parameters regarding
combining ability and a picture of the dominance
relationship of the parents studied using the first filial
generation (F1) with or without reciprocals. The potential
of heterosis is just beginning to be exploited in developing
countries through expansion of hybrid seeds. A number of
populations e.g., single crosses, three-way crosses,
double crosses, varietal hybrids, multiple hybrids,
composites, synthetics, pools etc. are feasible for
commercial cultivation by virtue of the crop being a highly
cross-pollinated species. Yield in maize crop has
increased substantially over the years as the breeders are
successful in harnessing the heterosis than in other crop
species. The discovery of heterosis phenomenon, the
development of hybrid breeding technology and
successful commercial exploitation of heterosis in maize
are considered to be significant achievements and land
marks in the history of biological sciences during the
present century. This indicates the importance of maize in
the ever-increasing demand for food and warrants the
continuous development of new high yielding hybrids. In
heterosis breeding programme, the selection of
parents/inbreeds based on their morphological diversity
with good combining ability is very important in producing
superior hybrids. The analysis of general combining ability
(GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) helps in
identifying potential parents/inbreeds for the production of
superior hybrids (Aisyah et al., 2016). The concept of
combining ability was introduced by Sprague and Tatum
(1942) and its mathematical model was set by Griffing
(1956) in his classical paper in conjunction with the diallel
crosses, where partitioned the total variation of diallel data
into GCA of the parents and SCA of the crosses. The value
of any inbred/parent depends on its per se performance
and its combining ability in crosses (Vacaro et al., 2002).
Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
Diallel crosses have been widely used in genetic research
to investigate the inheritance of important traits among a
set of genotypes. The nature and magnitude of gene action
is an important factor in developing an effective breeding
programme, which can be understood through combining
ability analysis. Beside combining ability, value of
heterosis can also be used as one important consideration
for selecting parent genotype and novel hybrid. The
information of heterosis value on certain selected
genotypes can be very useful for development hybrid
novel variety (Amanullah et al. 2011) and is helpful to plant
breeders for formulating hybrid breeding programs.
Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the
general combining ability of parents for yield and its
components with identifying the best performing hybrids
on the basis of specific combining ability.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Location and soil condition
The experimental field was located at 24.00N latitude and
90.250E longitudes at an altitude of 34m above the sea
level. The land belonged to the Agro Ecological Zone
(AEZ) of the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain of
Bangladesh. The soil was sandy loam with pH value of 6.2
during the growing period to the crop.
Experimental Design and Layout
Six promising maize pure line cultivars (ML06, ML10,
ML14, ML15, ML17, and ML25) were crossed in half diallel
fashion excluding the reciprocals. The lines were come out
for the development of 15 experimental hybrids (Table 1).
These six inbred were considered as the parental lines for
the development of experimental hybrids. The experiment
was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) with three replications. The plot size was 18.4m x
4.5m. The distance maintained between two lines was
0.75m and between block was 1.0m.
Land Preparation
The experimental plot was prepared by ploughing with
power tiller followed by exposed to the sun for a week and
after one week the land was harrowed, ploughed and
cross-ploughed several times followed by laddering to
obtain a good tilth. After laddering the weeds and the
stubbles of previous crops were removed from the land
and finally a desired tilth of soil for planting of maize seed
was obtained.
Application of Manures and Fertilizers
Green manure and decomposed organic matter were used
at the rate of 6.0 t/ha before final land preparation. The
chemical fertilizer such as Urea, TSP, MOP, Gypsum,
boric acid and zinc sulphate were applied in the plot at the

rate of 50, 195, 100, 10 and 10 kg/ha respectively as basal
doses. The rest of 120 kg urea was applied in three equal
splits (i.e.40 kg/ splits) at 25, 45, and 60 days after planting
as side dressing, 3-5 cm away from the plant and the
furrow of the fertilizer of the fertilizer of the hilled up
immediately, at the same time third dressing of urea, rest
35 kg of MOP was used. The maize seed were planted in
lines, each having a line to line distance of 0.75 m and
soaked seed (soaking time was 24 h) were planted in the
well-prepared plot.
Caring of plants
When the seedling stated to emerge in the beds it was
always kept under careful observation. Irrigation was
provided at stage, pre-flowering stage and milking stage
at 45, 65, and 80 days after planting (DAP) for proper
growth and development of plants. The seedling was first
thinned from all of the lines 10 days after germination and
second thinning was carried out after 7 days for
maintaining proper spacing in the experimental plots.
Weeding and mulching were done to keep the plots free
form weeds, easy aeration of soil and to conserve soil
moisture, which ultimately ensured better growth and
development. Breaking of crust of the soil was done when
needed through mulching. After 50 days of planting, first
spray of chlorpyriphos was done against sucking pest such
as jassids and aphids. The crops were harvested when the
husk cover was completely dried and yellowish color was
formed in the grain. The cob of five randomly selected
plants of each genotype was separately harvested.
Data collection
Data were collected on maturity (days), plant height (cm),
cob length (cm), kernel rows per cob, kernels per rows,
kernels per cob, cob weight (g), 1000 grain weight (g) and
grain yield per plant (g).
Data analysis
Analysis of variance: The mean values of the entries in
each replication were used for analysis of variance
(ANOVA). The significant difference among genotypes
was tested by `F` test at 1% and 5% levels of probability.
Estimation of heterosis: Heterosis expressed as percent
of increase of Fl hybrid over mid parent (average or relative
heterosis), better parent (heterobeltiosis) and commercial
check (standard heterosis) were computed for each
character using the formula of Griffing (1956) and
Mirshamsi et al. (2006).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results indicated that mean squares of genotypes were
highly significant for all studied traits i.e., maturity, plant
Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 522
height, number of kernel rows per cob, number of kernels
per cob, cob weight, and 1000 grain weight (Table 2).
General combining ability mean squares (GCA) were
significant for all traits except cob length, number of
kernels per row and rain yield per plant. On the other hand,
Specific Combining Ability (SCA) mean squares were
highly significant for maturity, plant height, number of
kernel rows per cob, number of kernels per cob, cob
weight, and 1000 grain weight. The GCA/SCA ratio was
less than unity for all studied traits.
General combining ability effects
Significant GCA effects were found for all studied traits
except the cob length, number of kernels per row and grain
yield per plant (Table 2). Based on GCA estimates (Table
3), it could be concluded that the best combiners for plant
height were ML10 and, ML14; for cob length ML06 and
ML14; for number of kernel row per cob ML06; for number
of kernel per row ML17; for number of kernel per cob
ML14 and ML15; for cob weight ML14; for hundred grain
weight ML06 and ML10 and for grain yield per plant inbred
lines were ML06 and ML14. These results indicated that
these inbreed could be considered as good combiners for
improving these traits. Amiruzzaman et al. (2010) also
identified the correlation of good general combining ability
of grain yield and other yield attributing traits with per se
performance of parental genotypes. Therefore, per se
performance of parents could be used as useful index for
general combining ability.
Specific combining ability effects
In present study, parents with significant positive GCA
effects were classified as good general combiner; with
non-significant GCA as average combiner and significant
negative GCA effects were classified as poor general
combiner. Significant SCA effects were found in all studied
traits for some crosses except number of kernels per row,
cob length and grain yield per plant (Table 2). Based on
SCA effects (Table 4), it could be concluded that the
crosses i.e., ML06×ML17, ML14×ML15 and ML15×ML17
showed significant and positive SCA effects for plant
height; ML06×ML14, ML06×ML15, ML06×ML25 and
ML14×ML15 for cob length; ML06×ML10, ML14×ML15
and ML15×ML17 for number of kernel rows per cob;
ML10×ML25 and ML15×ML17 for number of kernel per
cob; ML06×ML10, ML06×ML17, ML14×ML15 and
ML15×ML17 for cob weight; ML10×ML15 and
ML14×ML15 for hundred grains weight and ML06×ML10,
ML15×ML17 and ML17×ML25 showed significant and
positive SCA effects for grain yield per plant (Table 4). The
SCA effects of grain yield and yield attributing traits in
maize were also reported by Amiruzzaman et al. (2010);
Haddadi et al. (2012); Aminu et al. (2014) and Guerrero et
al. (2014), also had given the emphasis on heterosis
breeding for exploitation of non-additive gene action for
maize improvement program.
Hassan et al. 523

Heterosis over mid-parent number of kernel per row ML06×ML15, ML06×ML17,

Results showed positive and negative significant heterosis
values for all studied traits. For the trait of plant height
ML06×ML17, ML15×ML17 and ML17×ML25; for cob
length ML06×ML25 and ML06×ML15 for number of kernel
rows per cob ML06×ML10 and ML10×ML15; for number of
kernel per row ML06×ML17, ML10×ML25, ML15×ML17
and ML17×ML25; for number of kernel per cob;
ML06×ML10, ML06×ML15, ML06×ML17, ML10×ML25,
ML15×ML17, ML15×ML25 and ML17×ML25; for cob
weight all crosses except ML06×ML14, ML15×ML17,
ML06×ML17 and ML06×ML10; for hundred grain weight
ML14×ML15, ML10×ML15 and ML15×ML17, and for grain
yield per plant ML10×ML15, ML10×ML25 and
ML15×ML17 showed positive significant heterosis over
mid-parent (Table 5).
Heterosis over better-parent
Results showed significant heterosis values over better-
parents in all studied traits except maturity and hundred
grain weights for most crosses. For plant height
ML06×ML17, ML15×ML17 and L17×ML25; for cob length
ML06×ML25 and ML10×ML15; for number of kernel rows
per cob ML06×ML10, ML10×ML15 and ML15×ML17;
ML10×ML17, ML10×ML25, ML15×ML17 and
ML17×ML25; for number of kernel per cob ML06×ML10,
ML06×ML15, ML06×ML17, ML10×ML17, ML15×ML17
and ML17×ML25; for cob weight ML06×ML10,
ML06×ML17, ML10×ML15 and ML15×ML17, and for grain
yield per plant ML06×ML10, ML06×ML15, ML06×ML17,
ML10×ML15, ML10×ML17, ML15×ML17 and ML17×ML25
were showed significant and positive heterosis over better-
parent (Table 6).
Heterosis over check variety
Two hybrids showed significant standard heterosis for
plant height i.e. ML06×ML17 and ML14×ML17. For cob
length ML06×ML14, ML06×ML15, ML06×ML25,
ML10×ML17 and ML17×ML25; for number of kernel rows
per cob ML06×ML10, ML10×ML15 and ML14×ML15; for
number of kernel per row ML17×ML25; for number of
kernel per cob ML06×ML10, ML06×ML17, ML10×ML25,
ML15×ML17 and ML17×ML25; for cob weight
ML06×ML10, ML06×ML17, ML06×ML25, ML10×ML15,
ML14×ML15, ML15×ML17, ML15×ML25 and
ML17×ML25, and for grain yield per plant ML06×ML10,
ML10×ML15, ML15×ML17, and ML17×ML25 showed the
positive significant heterosis over check variety (Table 7).

Table 1: Representation of half diallel crossing program with six parents

ML06 ML10 ML14 ML15 ML17 ML25
ML06 ML06×ML10 ML06×ML14 ML06×ML15 ML06×ML17 ML06×ML25
ML10 ML10×ML14 ML10×ML15 ML10×ML17 ML10×ML25
ML14 ML14×ML15 ML14×ML17 ML14×ML25
ML15 ML15×ML17 ML15×ML25
ML17 ML17×ML25
ML25

Table 2: Mean squares from analysis of variance for Genotypes, General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific
Combining Ability (SCA) of all studied traits of maize
SOV Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW TGW GY/P
Genotypes 261.04*** 934.44*** 2.475 3.5168* 57.88 33102.88** 2717.55* 34.05* 1659.34
GCA 18.46** 92.50 1.86** 0.2483 9.71** 10451.25 300.13 1.1 260.60
SCA 109.86*** 384.47*** 2.93** 1.4802** 18.88** 41841.12** 1107.75** 14.73** 650.61*
Error 1.30 56.72 1.48 0.5084 22.29 3765.02 421.17 4.97 288.92
GCA/SCA 0.168 0.240 0.635 0.167 0.514 0.25 0.270 0.080 0.400
σ2A 0.00 0.00 -3.26 0.00 -2.30 -1439.46 0.00 0.00 0.00
σ2D 434.23 1311.00 12.58 3.88 -3.41 3266.97 2746.34 39.04 1446.77
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively; σ2A = Additive genetic variance, σ2D = Dominant
component, Maturity(days) PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R=
Number of kernels per row, NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and
GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
 Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 524

Table 3: Estimates of general combining ability effects for inbred parents for all studied traits of maize
Parents Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW HGW GY/P
ML06 2.76 1.35 2.65** 0.19** 0.85** 83.16** -0.57 0.12** 1.76*
ML10 -0.19 4.78** 0.55* 0.06* -5.18** -182.17** -2.90** 0.08 -4.31**
ML14 0.13 4.09** 1.98** 0.06* -4.54** 130.56** 11.27** 0.25** 8.46**
ML15 -0.98 2.46* -2.23** 0.10** 1.94* 157.65** -6.16** -0.76** -7.61**
ML17 -1.69 -2.20* 1.29** -0.23** 7.05** -170.86** -3.30** 0.03 -1.40*
ML25 -0.02 -2.30* 0.54** -0.20** 0.88* 118.44** 1.68 0.26** -1.40*
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively
PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R= Number of kernels per row,
NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

Table 4: Estimates of SCA effect of the crosses for all studied traits of maize
Crosses Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW HGW GY/P
ML06×ML10 8.11 5.96 0.75 3.28** 3.47 56.92* 30.11* 0.66 26.83**
ML06×ML14 7.11 3.94 0.85* -0.85 2.19 28.45 -5.13 1.57 7.12
ML06×ML15 9.23 4.01 1.82** -0.35 1.15 66.21* 1.17 -1.39 11.60
ML06×ML17 6.27 28.42** 0.74 0.51 4.64 55.75 35.07* 2.03 16.05
ML06×ML25 0.27 5.45 1.14* 0.35 1.75 53.92 23.75 2.78 5.55
ML10×ML14 5.07 -3.01 0.53 -0.32 0.89 54.45 -22.62 -3.10 -11.06
ML10×ML15 4.19 14.12 0.09 0.96 1.71 37.31 21.26 4.37** 17.01
ML10×ML17 2.90 -3.04 -0.53 -0.55 3.23 10.71 10.14 2.84 7.46
ML10×ML25 6.90 12.92 0.28 -0.45 1.08 70.11** 12.58 0.82 7.63
ML14×ML15 2.86 19.50* 0.95* 1.10** 2.82 65.83* 29.88* 6.39** 31.57**
ML14×ML17 5.23 -26.72 0.72 -0.82 4.60 42.08 -18.70 -1.01 -25.30
ML14×ML25 7.57 2.21 0.92* 0.21 -1.44 20.30 -28.61 -3.30 -20.47
ML15×ML17 4.36 23.31** 0.73 0.86* -1.46 73.25** 38.88* 3.22 28.77**
ML15×ML25 4.36 -4.31 0.88 -0.22 1.51 22.60 21.14 3.38 12.93
ML17×ML25 7.07 21.08 0.90 0.25 3.09 69.92** 16.93 -0.97 30.72**
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively
PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R= Number of kernels per row,
NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

Table 5: Percentage of heterosis over mid-parents for all studied traits of maize
Crosses Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW HGW GY/P
ML06×ML10 17.57 13.60** -3.50 37.35** 0.82 39.34** 43.95** 9.66** 48.37**
ML06×ML14 16.90 8.26 9.33 -2.08 0.11 -2.26 2.60 8.35 9.63
ML06×ML15 18.13 17.58** 8.68** 7.49 17.56* 29.21** 39.56** 12.30** 47.39**
ML06×ML17 16.03 30.05** -2.32 10.06* 22.40** 34.76** 55.71** 13.87** 40.97**
ML06×ML25 11.34 15.60* 12.23** 8.62 5.11 14.38 37.10** 13.18** 45.11**
ML10×ML14 14.80 1.43 -3.09 1.72 2.50 2.01 -11.04 -4.15 -5.83
ML10×ML15 13.68 19.44** -19.42** 17.86** 0.52 19.58* 46.53** 29.94** 48.55**
ML10×ML17 12.84 8.08 -0.35 1.80 15.36* 16.33* 30.26* 16.07 29.67**
ML10×ML25 15.96 16.10* -3.34 2.43 21.92** 23.95** 23.33 7.84 49.15**
ML14×ML15 13.49 18.24** -5.67 11.08* -3.70 7.15 27.12* 30.93 16.53
ML14×ML17 14.81 -9.56 -4.64 -6.73 -0.06 -8.30 -5.16 1.75 -13.75
ML14×ML25 16.60 5.88 -3.53 0.59 -6.95 -9.64 -14.48 -6.46 -13.21
ML15×ML17 13.67 28.53** -1.87 11.53* 20.76** 36.20** 69.71* 26.96** 62.23**
ML15×ML25 13.91 11.26 -1.13 3.03 14.92* 20.00* 43.43** 13.03** 37.90**
ML17×ML25 15.98 24.35** 4.07 2.61 27.15** 28.12** 32.62* 3.34 43.60**
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively
PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R= Number of kernels per row,
NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize (Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis
Hassan et al. 525

Table 6: Percentage of heterosis over better-parents for all studied traits of maize
Crosses Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW HGW GY/P
ML06×ML10 19.42 8.42 -11.15* 36.10** 0.42 38.33** 38.23** 9.59 46.77**
ML06×ML14 18.58 3.92 5.88 -7.40 -9.06 -16.11 -17.29 4.42 -10.23
ML06×ML15 20.31 16.83** 5.47 6.94 15.54* 26.66* 27.17 1.52 30.82**
ML06×ML17 18.98 28.27** -7.24 8 18.44** 34.68** 53.41** 13.24 40.00**
ML06×ML25 12.79 14.89* 8.87* 6.20 2.92 9.01 27.03 10.53 16.69
ML10×ML14 14.96 0.82 -8.02 -4.62 -7.22 -12.98 -25.94 -7.68 -23.54
ML10×ML15 13.98 13.31* -23.67** 16.19** -0.81 18.07 28.74* 17.53 33.12**
ML10×ML17 13.90 1.80 -3.71 -1 12.06* 15.54* 23.32 15.50 29.16**
ML10×ML25 16.27 10.16 -8.41 -0.74 18.91** 17.31 18.82 5.26 13.71
ML14×ML15 13.19 12.81* -5.88 5.55 -13.88 -9.55 -4.43 14.52 -12.93
ML14×ML17 16.04 -14.32 -6.40 -10.18 -11.86 -21.34 -24.40 -2.46 -29.76
ML14×ML25 16.75 1.04 -3.70 -2.77 -13.82 -19.10 -26.56 -7.72 -24.64
ML15×ML17 14.43 27.57** -3.88 10* 18.86** 33.59** 56.76** 15.35 44.87**
ML15×ML25 14.51 11.29 -1.18 1.24 10.63 12.22 22.04 9.79 15.20
ML17×ML25 17.37 23.39** 1.99 2.23 20.55** 22.03* 21.22 0.37 33.08**
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively
PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R= Number of kernels per row,
NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

Table 7: Percentage of standard heterosis for all studied traits of maize

Crosses Maturity PH CL NKR/C NK/R NK/C CW HGW GY/P
ML06×ML10 4.35 4.67* 4.36 32.99** -14.09 14.18** 19.89** 5.41 19.78**
ML06×ML14 3.89 -0.86 11.72** 1.52 -4.73 -3.35 7.88 8.30 5.31
ML06×ML15 4.58 2.50 10.80** 5.58 -1.15 4.55 1.54 -2.35 -2.14
ML06×ML17 2.06 12.54** 1.60 9.64 1.32 11.17** 22.49** 8.92 4.72
ML06×ML25 -0.91 0.81 14.48** 8.62 -8.11** -0.68 18.88** 11.54 0.85
ML10×ML14 0.45 -2.66 8.04 4.56 -2.81 0.25 -3.40 -4.26 -10.30
ML10×ML15 -0.91 9.39 -10.34 14.72** -15.82** -3.95 11.67* 12.91 22.57**
ML10×ML17 -2.29 -1.71 13.10** 0.50 -4.89 -4.72 6.96 10.96 -4.72
ML10×ML25 1.60 6.35 7.58 1.52 6.15* 6.87* 11.19 6.21 -1.71
ML14×ML15 -1.60 7.61 -0.68 15.73** -9.78** 4.21 24.66** 18.77 2.14
ML14×ML17 -0.45 18.27** 2.52 -1.52 -7.67 -9.37 -1.39 1.15 -17.59
ML14×ML25 2.29 -3.61 1.60 6.59 -9.72 -6.79 -4.20 -4.30 -11.58
ML15×ML17 -1.83 10.51* 5.28 11.67 -1.80 10.14** 21.48** 9.72 16.86**
ML15×ML25 -0.45 -3.59 3.90 3.55 -1.23 2.23 14.21* 10.78 -0.42
ML17×ML25 0.68 6.95 11.72** 4.56 7.62** 11.17** 13.44* 1.28 15.02**
* and ** means significant at 5% and 1% level of probability, respectively
PH= Plant height (cm), CL= Cob length (cm)NKR/C= Number of kernel rows per cob, NK/R= Number of kernels per row,
NK/C= Number of kernels per cob, CW= Cob weight (g), TGW= 1000 grain weight (g) and GY/P= Grain yield per plant (g)

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Accepted 20 May 2019
Citation: Hassan AA, Jama AA, Mohamed OH, Biswas BK
(2019). Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Maize
(Zea mays l.) Using Partial Diallel Analysis. International
Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science, 6(2): 520-
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Copyright: © 2019: Hassan et al. This is an open-access
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Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.