COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS OF GRAIN YIELD AND SOME OF ITS ATTRIBUTES IN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Abstract

All X 9 dlallel rombining ability analysis showed the predominant role of nonadditive type ofgene action in the inheritance of grain yield, ear diameter and 1000.kernel weight. Ear length, kernel rows per ear and kernels per row indicated equal importance of both additive and nonadditive genes. Greater importanre of gra x environment (E) interadion, than ofsra x E interadion, was revealed for ear length and diameter, while only sca x E was important for kernel rows per ear and 1000·kernel weight. G x E interariion was of no importanre for grain yield and kernels per row. Two inbreds (P7 and P9) and two crosses (P2 x P8 and P4 x P7) exhibited signifirant and positive gra and sra efFeds, respedively, for grain yield and some of its attributes.