DOI: n/a
Abstract
Eleven early inbred maize lines, created by means of the classical method of breeding at the Maize Research Institute – Knezha, are included in a partial system of Savtchenco’s diallele crosses.The present study shows the results of the analysis and evaluation of the General and Specific Combining Ability (GCA and SCA) for grain yield and elements of the yield – ear length and kernel weight per ear. The experimental crosses were obtained in 2012 in a field of the Maize Research Institute – Knezha and were tested in 2013 and 2014. The experiments were carried out using the Latin Rectangle design, in two replications, with a test plot of 5 m2, plant density 5,800 plants/da and non-irrigation conditions.
The КС 11 28, КС 11 41, КС 11 10, КС 11 79 and КС 11 71 lines displayed the highest General Combining Ability (GCA) for grain yield, the ХМ 11 22, ХМ 11 24, КС 11 72, КС 11 71 and КС 11 74 lines – for length of the ear and the КС 11 28, КС 11 10 and КС 11 79 lines – for kernel weight per ear. They could be used as components of early synthetics as well as testers for analysis of GCA for yield elements of the lines in earlier generations. The КС 11 74, КС 11 71 and ХМ 11 22 lines displayed high Specific Combining Ability (SCA) for grain yield, the XM 11 22 and KC 11 74 lines – for length of the ear and the КС 11 66, КС 11 28, КС 11 72, КС 11 41, КС 11 79, ХМ 11 22, КС 11 74 and КС 11 10 lines – for kernel weight per ear. They could be used directly in the heterosis breeding for developing of early hybrids with such characteristics.The lines with high GCA are suitable testers in the early stages of breeding in these parameters and can be donors in the creation of synthetic populations in an early maturity group. The lines with high SCA are suitable components for direct heterosis selection of early hybrids with such characteristics.
As a direct outcome of the experimental work, high yielding crosses of the КС 11 28 line from the first group of lines and the КС 11 10, КС 11 79 and КС 11 41 lines from the second one were nominated. Their testing is still in process in competitive and ecological experiments.