Studies on Combining Ability for Grain Yield and its Attributing Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Developing a hybrid with high vigour and productivity requires the careful selection and crossing of parent lines that show a favourable combining ability to harness the potential of heterosis fully. Combining ability gives insights into the potential of inbred lines that can be used to develop hybrids and also reveals the nature and magnitude of different types of gene action, assisting the breeders in selecting parental lines with superior performance. The present study determines the combining ability for Grain yield and its attributing traits in maize (Zea mays L.). The investigation was conducted during rabi, 2024–25 at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati. A Line × Tester mating design was carried out for 30 inbred lines and 2 testers to evaluate the GCA and SCA effects for grain yield and associated traits. For 12 traits under study, SCA variance exceeded GCA variance for all traits except for ear length, confirming the predominance of non-additive gene action. Based on per se performance and GCA effects, the lines PL 23084 and PL 23110 were identified as the best general combiners for grain yield and its components. Among hybrids, PL 23100 × LM 14, PL 23090 × CML 451, and PL 23059 × LM 14 exhibited significant positive SCA effects for grain yield and its components, identifying them as the best crosses for exploiting hybrid vigour. The two crosses PL 23100 × LM 14 and PL 23059 × LM 14 were identified based on the per se performance and SCA effects for grain yield. These hybrids need to be further evaluated across locations and over seasons to select the best hybrids for commercial exploitation. The crosses could be useful in the development of high yielding hybrids in maize. These hybrids need to be further evaluated across locations and over seasons to select best hybrids for commercial exploitation.