Evaluation of intervarietal maize hybrids through partial diallel cross, considering four environments

Abstract

In the summer season of 2004/2005, 12 intervarietal maize hybrids, crossed by the partial diallel scheme 3 x 4, the seven parental populations and three checks were evaluated at Iapar Experimental Stations in Londrina, Pato Branco, Ponta Grossa e Guarapuava. The objective was to identify crosses for future work with recurrent selection, inbred lines extraction and composite synthesis. For Heterosis variation cause, the differences were determined (P < 0.01) for traits grain yield and female flowering, indicating that crosses were superior in relation to parentals. Regarding General Combining Ability values for yield, the parentals from Group-1, PC 9407 and BR 106, showed values of 36.7 kg.ha-1 and 171.1 kg.ha-1, respectively, and the parentals from Group-2 presented values of 131.1 kg.ha-1 and 56.8 kg.ha-1, respectively,. For Specific Combining Ability, the largest values were from PC 9701 x BR 106 (205.4 kg.ha-1) e PC 9502 x PC 9407 (135.3 kg.ha-1) and, the largest values of grain yield average (9297 e 9018 kg.ha-1, respectively). Thepopulations PC 9701, BR 106, PC 9502 and PC 9407 are promising sources for inbred lines extraction aiming to superior maize hybrids development, composite synthesis and recurrent selection.