Study on Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression in Maize (zea Mays L.)

A study was undertaken to investigate the heterosis and inbreeding depression in 21 hybrids (F1) and their F2s produced by crossing seven maize inbreeds in all possible combinations, excluding reciprocal. . The crosses VL-1016556 × CML-171 and VL-1016556 × KL-153237 were identified as the best F1s as they showed superiority for grain yield per plant over the check. The highest heterobeltiosis (Hb) was recorded by hybrids VL-1016556 × KL-153237 and VL-1016556 × CML-171 while hybrids VL-1016556 × KL-153237 and VL-1016556 × CML-171 exhibited the highest economic heterosis (Hc). Keeping the greater magnitude of heterosis, high mean performance and lesser inbreeding depression (less than 15%) into consideration, five crosses, namely, VL-1016556 × BHU-N5, VL-1016556 × CML-171, VL-1016556 × CML-161, CML-171 × BHU-N5 and VL-1016556 × BHU QPM-3 were identified as best hybrids.