Diallel Analysis of Leaf Number and Duration to Mid-Silk in Maize

The diallel cross technique was used to study the mode of inheritance of leaf number and duration to mid-silk in six inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.). Leaf number showed partial dominance, and the additive gene effects accounted for a high proportion of the total variation. The narrow and broad heritabilities were both high. Leaf number was controlled by at least one effective factor. Both additive and dominance components were responsible for the expression of duration to mid-silk. The narrow and broad heritabilities were both high. Duration to mid-silk was controlled by at least four effective factors.