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Estimates of combining ability for grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) populations^*

Delmar Brenner^I; Fernando I.F. de Carvalho^II; Luis C. Federizzi^II

^IPioneer Agricultura Ltda., Caixa Postal 89, 96800 Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brasil
^IIUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712, Caixa Postal 776, 90001 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Send correspondence to F.I.F.C.

ABSTRACT

Eight maize (Zea mays L.) populations and their 56 hybrids obtained by diallel crossing were tested for estimation of combining ability and other genetic parameters. The trial was grown in 1987 at the Experimental Station of the firm "Pioneer Agricultura Ltda." (Rio Pardo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). The experimental design was an 8 x 8 duplicated simple lattice with 4 replications. Combining ability was estimated by Method 1, Model I of Griffing (Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 9:463-493,1956) which was used to partition the lattice-adjusted treatment mean squares into general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effects (RE).
The results indicated that the populations are potential resources for breeding programs. Additive effects (GCA) were the most important. However, reciprocal and specific effects proved to be important in specific combinations.

Keywords: Combining ability; Zea mays.

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* Part of a thesis presented by D.B. to Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree in Agronomy.