Author(s):

GW Karad, MK Moon, Arati D Rathod, Shanti R Patil, SR Kamdi and RA Sayyad

Abstract: An investigation was carried out at of Agricultural Botany section College of Agricultural, Nagpur. During the year 2015-16 to assess extent of heterosis-over standard check (Rajarshi) for grain yield plant^-1 and yield contributing characters in maize (Zea mays L.). Thirteen crosses obtained by diallel mating, six parents and two checks were raised in Randomized Block design with three replications. The data were recorded on randomly five plants grown on days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to maturity, plant height (cm), cob girth (cm), cob length (cm), number of grains cob^-1, 100 grain weight (g), grain yield plant^-1 (g), and grain yield plot^-1 (kg). The data were subjected to statistical and biometrical analyses. Considerable variability existed among the genotypes for all the characters studied as observed from the significant mean squares due to genotypes. The crosses DC-3 x DC-7, NAUM-8 x DC-3 and NAUM-8 x DC-7 had high mean performance for grain yield plant^-1. The mean squares due to interaction effects of parents vs. crosses were found to be significant for days to 50% silking, days to maturity, plant height (cm), cob girth (cm), number of grains cob^-1, 100 grain weight (g), grain yield plant^-1 (g), and grain yield plot^-1 (kg) indicating the choice of exploitation of heterosis. These three crosses also exhibited significant standard heterosis for grain yield plant^-1. The cross also had significant per se performance for their respective characters. Hence it is inferred that there three crosses -3 x DC-7, NAUM-8 x DC-3 and NAUM-8 x DC-7 having high heterosis and high mean could be exploited commercially for higher yield in maize.

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