Heterotic patterns for twelve exotic and local yellow maize populations in Egypt

Abstract EN

The concept of heterotic groups and patterns is fundamental to hybrid breeding theory and practice, the objective of this study was to determine heterotic patterns among twelve yellow maize populations, eight of these populations were exotic germplasm, six from China (Ch2, Ch6, Ch8, Ch12, Ch14, and Ch15), one from France (Fr.

), and one from CIMMYT (DTPY); and four local populations contain mixture of Local and exotic germplasm (NYP, NDTYP, Sk21, and Gm YP).

Half diallel was performed among the populations at 2018 summer season.

Twelve parents and their 66 crosses were evaluated at three locations in 2019 summer season.

Data were collected for grain yield, number of days to mid-sulking, plant and ear heights.

Results showed that High significant differences were observed among locations, entries and their partition i.

e.

, general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) effects for all the studied traits.

Also, locations by entries interaction was significant or high significant for all studied traits, while location by GCA effects interactions was highly significant and significant for plant height and ear height respectively.

In addition, location by SCA effects interaction was highly significant to differ for plant height.

This study showed that, Ch2, Ch12, Gm YP and Sk 21 have good Potentials for use in the National Maize Research Program (NMRP) as new heterotic patterns to develop new yellow diverse inbred Lines.

The combinations (Ch14xSk21), (Ch2xGmYP), and(Ch2XDTPY) Showed desirable Specific Combining ability effects for grain yield and therefore, recommended to use in inter and intra population breeding program.