The study of heterosis among maize germplasm is very essential to maximize the effectiveness of cultivars selection. Diallel analysis using 6inbred lines was carried out with a view to estimating heterosis in maize. Significant heterosis for grain yield traits was observed in most of the hybrids. Higher magnitude of heterosis against all yield and quality traits were not expressed in a single hybrid combination which varied from the cross to cross due to the diverse genetic background of their parents. An examination of mean values for different characters revealed that CML-482 and IT-INA-011-2 were the high yielding parents and were also good for various yield attributing traits. In general, the parents showing superior performance give superior hybrids and a higher magnitude of heterosis in hybrid combination. The considerable magnitude of heterosis and heterobeltiosis was observed for all the characters. The higher significant and positive standard heterosis for kernel yield per plant and some of its yield contributing traits were recorded in the cross, CML-482 × IT-INA-011-2. The per se performance of hybrids was, in general, related to the heterotic response in the majority of characters. This indicated that the selection of crosses on the basis of per se performance or heterotic response would be equally important.

Heterosis, Heterobeltiosis, Diallel, Maize, yield, yield components

The high, significant and positive standard heterosis for Kernel yield per plant and some of its component traits were recorded in the crosse, CML-482 × IT-INA-011-2 Such crosses could be exploited for heterosis breeding programme in maize.

Pandya P.V., Patel S.R., Trivedi. M.A. and Goti H.G. (2023). Heterosis Studies for Yield and Yield Attributing Characters in Maize (Zea mays L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(12): 335-339.