COMPARISON OF TESTERS IN THE EVALUATION OF COMBINING ABILITY OF S2 FAMILIES IN POPCORN

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare three testers (three-way hybrid Zélia, single cross hybrid IAC 112 and composite CMS 43) for evaluating general and specific combining ability of thirty six S2 popcorn families obtained from CMS 43. Families were evaluated considering per se and topcrosses performances, in four 6X6 lattices, with three replications. Trials were carried out in the experimental field at Universidade Estadual de Maringá, in Iguatemi, Paraná, in the years 2001 and 2002. General and specific combining ability were estimated following the partial diallel model. Heterosis of topcrosses in relation to the mean of each tester as well as the correlation between families performances and respective topcrosses were estimated. Correlation estimates were obtained among four sets of means: the S2 families and the three topcrosses sets. Results showed that the more appropriate testers for grain yield and popping expansion were Zélia in 2001 and CMS 43 in 2002.

Keywords

• Zea mays
• topcross
• heterosis
• hybrids