Article Sidebar
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the journal.
Main Article Content
Combining ability for grain yield, agronomic traits and <i>Striga lutea</i> tolerance of maize hybrids under artificial striga infestation
Abstract
A study was carried out using diallel crosses in maize to determine the general and specific combining abilities in the mode of inheritance of tolerance to Striga lutea. Ten inbred parents of varying tolerance
to S. lutea were crossed in half diallel to generate 45 F1 hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated in three striga endemic locations of Southwestern Nigeria under artificial infestation in 1998 growing seasons. The results showed that general combining ability effects were significant for almost all traits under infested and uninfested conditions. Progeny performance showed that hybrids were 86 and 40% better than their parent inbreds for striga tolerance rating and maize grain yield under artificial infestation.
General combining ability (gca) effects for striga syndrome ratings were generally low with negative gca effects of -080. -0.40, -0.21,-0.15 and -0.26 in parents Tzi 97, Tzli100, Tzpi43-22, Tzmi105 and Tzpi260, respectively. Parents inbreds Tzpi97, Tzmi104, Tzpi57 and Tzli10 are good sources of gene for higher grain yield. Specific combining ability (sca) effects were also generally low for striga syndrome rating with values of -0.94, -0.77, -1.14 and 0.83 showing good tolerance. These tolerant inbreds may be
adopted for commercial hybrid maize production for S. lutea endemic areas of south western Nigeria.
to S. lutea were crossed in half diallel to generate 45 F1 hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated in three striga endemic locations of Southwestern Nigeria under artificial infestation in 1998 growing seasons. The results showed that general combining ability effects were significant for almost all traits under infested and uninfested conditions. Progeny performance showed that hybrids were 86 and 40% better than their parent inbreds for striga tolerance rating and maize grain yield under artificial infestation.
General combining ability (gca) effects for striga syndrome ratings were generally low with negative gca effects of -080. -0.40, -0.21,-0.15 and -0.26 in parents Tzi 97, Tzli100, Tzpi43-22, Tzmi105 and Tzpi260, respectively. Parents inbreds Tzpi97, Tzmi104, Tzpi57 and Tzli10 are good sources of gene for higher grain yield. Specific combining ability (sca) effects were also generally low for striga syndrome rating with values of -0.94, -0.77, -1.14 and 0.83 showing good tolerance. These tolerant inbreds may be
adopted for commercial hybrid maize production for S. lutea endemic areas of south western Nigeria.
