Combining Ability Evaluation of Waxy Maize Inbred Lines for Eating and Nutrient Characteristics

Abstract

    This study was conducted to evaluate the combining ability of thinner pericarp waxy maize inbred on the eating and nutrient quality traits such as tenderness, sweetness and amylose content through diallel cross using method 4 of Griffing. Six waxy maize inbred lines and their crosses were evaluated in a complete block design with 2 replications with plot size of 14m2 and HN88 as the hybrid variety check. Results showed that six parental lines and the crosses had short growth duration. The grain yield of parental lines ranged from 24.48 to 29,61 quintal/ha and fresh ear yield of the crosses was higher than the check variety. Four waxy maize inbred lines, D1, D2, D5, and D6 had high values for general combining ability on the fresh ear yield, thinner pericarp trait, protein, amylose content and other traits. Our results suggest that development of hybrid waxy maize variety for high quality should focus on parental inbred lines with combining ability for the quality traits.