Combining abilities and inbreeding depression in commercial maize hybrids

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combining ability and inbreeding depression of commercial maize hybrids for agricultural traits. Twenty-two commercial maize hybrids, 96 F1 crosses from a partial diallel scheme, 22 S1 populations and 4 controls were evaluated in a 12x12 simples square lattice experimental setup, totaling 144 treatments, in the municipality of Sabáudia (PR), Brazil, for harvests from 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. Three traits were evaluated: grain yield, plant height and ear height. The Griffing method (1956) was applied for the evaluation of the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA). The 30B39, 30K64 and 30B30 hybrids showed increased yield, 30F53 and P1630 showed reduced plant height and AG9040 and AG7010 showed reduced ear height. These hybrids can be recommended for the extraction of inbred lines and formation of composites followed by intrapopulation selection. The combinations 30B39 x AG8088, 30B39 x AG9045 and P1630 x AG8021 showed desirable SCA effects for grain yield, plant height and ear height and are recommended for use in reciprocal recurrent selection programs. High magnitudes of inbreeding depression were verified for yield and lower values for inbreeding depression for plant and ear heights. Thus, strategies are recommended for interpopulation breeding accompanied by inbred lines extraction.

Keywords

• Zea mays L.
• Análise dialélica
• Heterose
• Rendimento de grãos.