Combining ability of the waxy maize inbred lines selected from traditional waxy maize populations collected from different ethnic minorities

Abstract

The combining ability of eight waxy corn (Zea mays var. Ceratina)inbred lines, namely D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D8, D10 and D17, developed from three waxy corn populations of three Ethnic Minority People Groups ( Thai, Mong and Van Kieu) was evaluated using a Griffing’s diallel mating design method 4. The parent lines were evaluated in 2009 winter season 2009 and total of 28 F1crosses involving these eight inbred lines were produced and evaluated in 2010 spring season. The field trials were arranged in simple lattice design with 2 replications in Gia Lam, Ha Noi. At the same time, analysis of genetic distance among the inbred lines was performed based on 11 phenotypic traits was performed from which three heterotic groups were classified. Three lines with good GCA, namely D2, D4 and D5 could be utilized in developing single cross hybrid breeding program. The lines D2 and D4 showed good SCA with grain yield of 30.6 qt/ha, significantly higher than the check cultivar MX4 but not significantly different in comparison with VN2. Nevertheless, the growth duration of this combination is shorter than the checks in terms of date to fresh ear harvest by about 10 to 14 days. This is suitable for fresh waxy corn production in Winter season in the Red River Delta. It was also found that the lines belonging to different heterotic group exhibit higher SCA, indicating that genetic distance between lines correlated with SCA.