Prediction of popcorn hybrid and composite means

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the combining ability of 10 popcorn populations in a circulantdiallel; to test the viability of superior hybrids; and to identify genetic composites for intrapopulation breeding. In fourcontrasting environments, 30 treatments were evaluated for grain yield (GY), plant height (PLH) and popping expansion(PE), in a random block design with four replications. Results indicated that the evaluation of treatments in a larger groupof environments favors the expression of variability in genotypes. The additive effects for PE and the dominance effects forGY and PLH were highest. GY and PE of the combinations UNB2U-C1 x Angela and Braskalb x Angela were outstanding.The predicted mean PE and GY were highest for hybrid UNB2U-C1 x Angela and the composite formed by these parents(26.54 mL g-1 and 1,446.09 kg ha-1 respectively).

Keywords

• Popcorn
• circulant diallel
• combining ability
• popping expansion
• composite estimates.