Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.

,26 (2) : ( 185-189 ) 2013

Genetic analysis of grain yield, starch, protein and oil content in single cross hybrids of maize*
N. MAHESH, M. C. WALI, M. V. C. GOWDA, B. N. MOTAGI AND NAGARATNA F. UPPINAL
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
(Received: October, 2011 ; Accepted: November, 2012)
Abstract : Eighty seven single cross hybrids of maize were developed by crossing twenty nine new lines developed from the
National Yellow Pool with three testers in a line x tester (l x t) method and evaluated for grain yield, starch, protein and oil
content. Among parental lines (female) the inbred line; YP-15 was good general combiner for grain yield and starch content.
While inbred lines YP-25 and YP - 16 were good general combiners for protein and oil content respectively. The hybrids such
as ARBMH-09-29, ARBMH-09-27 for yield, ARBMH-09-27 for starch, three crosses viz., ARBMH-09-40, ARBMH-09-55
and ARBMH-09-14 for protein and two crosses viz., ARBMH-09-28, ARBMH-09-42 for oil content were the top crosses
with high significant SCA effects. Heterosis studies indicated the expression of relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis in several
crosses for most of the character in both desirable and undesirable direction. The cross combinations ARBMH-09-45,
ARBMH-09-15 for grain yield and starch respectively, ARBMH-09-40 for protein and ARBMH-09-27 for oil content were
the top crosses found to be promising as they had high standard heterosis.
Key words: Combining Ability, Heterosis, Non-additive gene, Variance

Introduction The success in commercial production of hybrid maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important crop of India
belonging to the family Poaceae and tribe Maydeae. Maize has
wide adaptability, as it can be grown from MSL to 3000 M above
and from 58o N to 40o S latitude. Maize being a C4 plant and
fertilizer responsive crop has very high yielding ability coupled
with very high amount of cross pollination. Hence, offers
tremendous scope for the plant breeders for genetic improvement.
Maize has been recognized as an industrial crop because of
the diversified products that can be developed like starch, syrup,
glucose, gluten and oil. Nearly 49% of the maize produce is
being utilized as a raw material in poultry feed industry. Maize
has hundreds of uses. The kernel contains about 77 per cent
starch. Corn starch (maize flour) is a major ingredient in home
cooking and in many industrialized food products. Oil content
of maize grain is about 4.5 per cent, which has a high nutritional
quality i.e., it is being considered as the highest Poly Unsaturated
Fatty Acid (PUFA), linoleic acid (61.99%). Maize contains nine
per cent protein. Protein present in maize is called as zein. Zein
has a variety of industrial and food uses. There is a strong
possibility to develop hybrids having higher yielding ability
and nutritionally superior and industrially important with respect
to high starch, protein and oil content.
Yield in maize crop has increased dramatically over the years
as the crop breeders are successful in harnessing the heterosis
or hybrid vigour in maize than in any other crop species. Heterosis
has been observed for most of the agronomically important
qualitative traits, though yield is the most widely discussed trait.
With the identification of heterosis by Shull (1908) and East
(1936) it has been very well utilized in maize improvement
programme and for the identifying the suitable parents based on
combining ability is the pre-requisite. The combining ability
studies not only provide information regarding choice of the
parents but also simultaneously illustrate the nature of gene
action involved in expression of desirable traits.
depends on extensive assessment of inbred lines. Therefore,
the present investigation was undertaken to study the
combining ability for grain yield, starch, protein and oil content
in single cross hybrids of maize and their parents using the Line
x Tester model.
Material and methods
The present investigation was carried out at All India
Co-ordinated Maize Improvement Project, Agricultural
Research Station, Arabhavi. A line x tester experiment
consisting of 29 lines, 3 testers and 87 F1 hybrids, were
evaluated along with the three commercial checks (EH - 434042
(Arjun), 900 M and NK-6240) during kharif 2009 with plot size
of two rows of 5 m length with a spacing of 75 cm x 20 cm. The
observations were recorded on randomly selected ten
competitive plants for sixteen different quantitative characters
viz., days to 50 per cent tasseling, days to 50 per cent silking,
days to maturity, plant height, ear length, ear circumference,
number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, shelling
percentage, 100 grain weight, fodder yield per hectare, grain
yield per plant, grain yield per hectare, starch, protein and oil
content.
The starch content was estimated by using anthrone reagent
(Clegg, 1956), while protein content was estimated by using
Micro - kjeldal method and oil content was estimated by using
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) (Oxford 400
series). The observations taken for hybrids and parents were
subjected to l x t analysis and the general combining ability
effects of different crosses were worked out. The combining
ability variance analysis was based on the method developed
by Kempthorne (1957).
Results and discussion
Analysis of variance for combining ability in respect of 16
qualitative traits under study is presented in Table 1. Analysis

*Part of M.Sc. ( Agri.) thesis submitted by the first author to University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India

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Table 1. Mean sum of squares for parents and hybrids in respect of 16 characters in maize
Source of Degrees of Days to 50% Days to 50% Plant Days to Ear length Ear No. of No. of
variation freedom tasseling silking height (cm) maturity (cm) circumference kernel rows kernels per
(cm) per ear row
Replication 1 1.85 0.85 187.06 1.68 3.01 1.92 0.08 12.34
Parents 31 3.29* 3.04* 196.55** 3.35* 0.43 0.38 0.5 3.61*
Females (Lines) 28 3.59* 3.12* 165.72** 3.72* 0.43 0.4 0.49 3.34*
Males (Testers) 2 0.5 3.17 436.50** 0.82 0.50 0.2 0.75 9.31**
Females Vs Males
(Lines x Testers) 1 0.27 0.63 579.95** 0.30 0.07 0.22 0.34 0.02
Hybrids 86 3.49* 3.49* 134.54** 3.47* 0.77 0.63 1.32* 10.01**
Parents Vs Hybrids 1 60.38** 27.15** 14428.7** 59.76** 1.1* 0.58 0.01 0.06
Error 118 2.79 2.46 87.35 2.82 0.44 0.22 0.22 2.17

Source of Degrees of Shelling Fodder yield 100-grain Grain yield Grain yield Starch Protein Oil
variation freedom (%) (t/ha) weight (g) per plant (g) (q/ha) (%) (%) (%)
Replication 1 321.27 27.23 27.57 1399.83 82.32 2.30 5.17 0.58
Parents 31 54.18** 0.98 20.22** 158.67** 21.46** 1.69 4.57** 0.54
Females (Lines) 28 59.96** 0.42 15.62** 174.70** 14.77* 1.65 4.66** 0.56
Males (testers) 2 0.41 0.68 16.16** 8.18 12.97* 1.84 4.72** 0.04
Females Vs Males
(Lines x Testers) 1 0.01 17.10** 157.00** 10.87 225.90** 2.73* 1.45 0.98*
Hybrids 86 55.08** 1.23 46.20** 321.65** 165.80** 7.86** 5.84** 1.12*
Parents Vs Hybrids 1 36.24** 107.42** 323.25** 27832.41** 9427.12** 176.26** 0.13 2.07**
Error 118 29.86 0.61 2.16 101.47 36.54 1.28 0.92 0.24

* Significant at 5% level
** Significant at 1% level

of variance for parents and hybrids revealed that all the parents
were highly significant for days to 50 per cent tasseling, days to
50 per cent silking, days to maturity, plant height, number of
kernels per row, shelling percentage, 100 grain weight yield per
hectare and protein. However in the female lines significant mean
sum of squares observed in days to 50 per cent tasseling, days
to 50 per cent silking, days to maturity, plant height, number of
kernels per row, shelling percentage, 100 grain weight, grain yield
per plant and grain yield per hectare and protein. The contribution
to total hybrid variances was found to be higher from females
than males for all characters under study as females were
genetically diverse than males. Always contribution from female
side was more than that for male because female contribute both
nucleus and cytoplasm, whereas male contribute only nucleus.
On the other hand, the contribution of the female x male
interaction was higher than that of females, in respect of eleven
characters, viz., plant height, ear length, ear circumference,
number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, shelling
percentage, 100-grain weight, grain yield per hectare, starch,
protein and oil revealing the importance of either female or male
parents for the expression of other traits in hybrids.
The mean sum squares for female versus male were significant
for plant height, fodder yield, 100 grain weight, grain yield per
hectare, starch and oil content. This implies that there is
divergence of testers from lines with respect to these six
characters. Similarly, the mean sum of squares for hybrids were
found to be significant for all traits except ear length, ear
circumference and fodder yield indicating diverse performance
of different cross combinations for remaining thirteen traits.
Combining ability analysis revealed that, parents viz., YP-15,
YP-18, YP-07, YP-11 and YP-20 were found to have significantly
high gca effects for yield as well as starch content. Parents viz.,
YP-1, YP-9, YP-14, YP-25 and YP-27 were the top five parents
identified as good general combiners for protein content. The
top five parents viz., YP-9, YP-15, YP-16, YP-21 and YP-22 were
found to be having gca effects for oil content. This combining
ability is not fixed property of the line but it depends upon
tester population used.
SCA variance was higher than GCA variance for all the
characters, except 50 per cent tasseling, days to 50 per cent
silking and days to maturity indicating predominance of
dominance variance in controlling these characters. The additive
to non-additive variance ratio was more than unity, which again
confirms the predominance of non -additive gene action for the
inheritance of these traits. These results are in conformity with
the findings of Guo et al. (1986), Herbert and Gallis (1986), Sanghi
et al. (1982), Dehghanapour et al. (1997), EI-Hosary et al. (1994),
Sedhom (1994), Vasal et al. (1992), Mohammad (1993), Pal and
Prodhan (1994), Satyanarayana et al. (1994) and Pal and Duara
(1991), Pal et al. (1986).
The SCA effects for most of the traits were non-significant in
nature among 87F1 Hybrids. Therefore, top ten hybrids based
on grain yield (q/ha) and top five hybrids based on starch (%),
protein (%) and oil content (%) were identified and their heterosis,
GCA status and SCA effects have been presented in Table 4.
Among these top ten hybrids, ARBMH-09-45 recorded the
highest grain yield 78.33 q/ha followed by ARBMH-09-54 with
76.83 q/ha, whereas the hybrid ARBMH-09-29 with 76.67 q/ha

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Table 2. General combining ability (GCA) effects of parents in respect nature and other character with significant SCA effects is 100
of grain yield, starch, protein and oil content grain weight. However, ARBMH-09-29 shows significant SCA
Characters Grain yield Starch Protein Oil content effects observed among top ten hybrids which recorded standard
(q/ha) (%) (%) (%) heterosis of 14.99% over the best check NK6240, which had
YP- 1 -6.96** -0.35 1.54** -0.79** significantly high SCA effects (15.44%) and parents were of high
YP- 2 -8.08** -0.87 0.57 -0.57* x low GCA nature.
YP- 3 -0.58 0.84 -0.8 -0.42 Among top five hybrids, ARBMH-09-15 recorded highest
YP- 4 5.81* 1.62** -0.61 -0.44 starch content 72.99% followed by ARBMH-09-45 and ARBMH-
YP- 5 7.42** 0.1 0.34 0.13 09-54 with 72.34% of starch. The hybrid; ARBMH-09-45 recorded
YP- 6 -4.47 -1.15* -0.31 0.23 highest standard heterosis of 3.44% over the best check NK6240,
YP- 7 6.42* 1.65** -0.28 -0.64**
which had high SCA effects (1.24%) and their parents were of
YP- 8 -4.19 -0.62 0.67 -0.2
high x high GCA nature and other characters with significant
YP- 9 1.15 0.49 0.96* 0.65**
YP- 10 6.37* 2.47** -1.34** 0.45*
SCA effects are number of kernel rows per ear, 100 grain weight
YP- 11 6.81* 0.46 -1.03* 0.03 and protein content. The hybrid; ARBMH-09-15 shows
YP- 12 -4.47 -1.43** 1.03* -0.25 significant SCA effects (3.99%) recorded standard heterosis of
YP- 13 -8.36** -1.04* 0.37 0.03 2.53% over best check NK-6240 and parents were of low x high
YP- 14 -3.63 -0.83 2.07** 0.46* GCA nature.
YP- 15 12.48** 2.59** -0.36 0.6** Highest protein content recorded in the hybrid ARBMH-
YP- 16 -0.85 0.49 -0.45 0.66** 09-40 with 15.84% among top five hybrids, followed by
YP- 17 -0.3 -1.15* 0.93* -0.37 ARBMH-09-55 with 14.89% and the least was recorded by the
YP- 18 9.48** 1.73** -1.26** -0.47* hybrid ARBMH-09-14 with 14.81% of starch. The hybrid;
YP- 19 -1.69 -0.31 0.38 -0.72** ARBMH-09-40 recorded highest standard heterosis of 32.6%
YP- 20 7.53** 1.5** -0.45 -0.34 over the best check NK-6240, which had significantly high
YP- 21 -0.02 0.13 -0.63 0.63** ERSCA effects (2.13%), their parents were of high x low GCA
YP- 22 -4.46 -0.7 -0.48 0.6** nature and other characters, which had significantly higher
YP- 23 1.65 -0.42 -0.67 -0.57* SCA effects were number of kernel rows per ear, number of
YP- 24 -2.52 -0.73 0.04 -0.04
kernels per row and shelling percentage.
YP- 25 4.43 -0.26 2.49** 0.51*
Top five hybrids were identified based on oil content. Among
YP- 26 -6.69* -0.78 -0.56 0.51*
YP- 27 -8.3** -1.66** 0.98* 0.06
these hybrids ARBMH-09-27 recorded highest oil content 6.95%,
YP- 28 -3.63 -1.93** -1.22** 0.06 followed by ARBMH-09-28 with 6.80%, whereas the hybrid
YP- 29 -0.3 0.16 -1.94** 0.23 ARBMH-09-78 was the least with 6.7% of oil content. The hybrid;
ARBMH-09-27 recorded highest standard heterosis of 12.10 %
*-Significant at 5% level **-Significant at 1% level
over the best check EH-434042 which had SCA effects (0.74%)
grain yield. The hybrid; ARBMH-09-54 recorded highest standard their parents were of high x high GCA nature and other
heterosis of 17.50 % over the best check NK-6240, which had characters with significant SCA effects were number of kernel
high SCA effects (4.98%) and parents were of low x low gca rows per ear, 100 grain weight and grain yield per plant.

Table 3. Performance of promising hybrids for grain yield

Single cross Mean grain Standard Heterosis GCA effects SCA Other characters Uniformity Kernel
hybrids yield (q/ha) EH434042 900M NK6240 female x male effects with significant texture
SCA effects
ARBMH-09-45 78.33 38.23** 22.07* 17.50 Low x Low 4.98 HSW 2.5 SF
ARBMH-09-54 76.83 35,58** 19.74 15.25 High x Low 6.48 HSW 2.5 SF
ARBMH-09-29 76.67 35.28** 19.47 14.99 High x Low 15.44** HSW, OC 2.5 F
ARBMH-09-15 76.50 34.99** 19.21 14.74 High x Low 8.20 EC, HSW 3.5 F
ARBMH-09-31 76.33 34.7** 18.96 14.50 High x High 8.52 HSW 2.5 SF
ARBMH-09-21 76.00 34.11** 18.44 13.99 High x Low 8.70 HSW 2 F
ARBMH-09-27 76.00 34.11** 18.44 13.99 Low x Low 13.98** NKRPE, HGW 3 F
ARBMH-09-58 76.00 34.11** 18.44 13.99 High x High 7.47 NKPR, HGW 1.5 F
ARBMH-09-10 75.83 33.81** 18.77 13.74 High x High 9.02* NKRPE 2 F
ARBMH-09-43 75.83 33.81** 18.17 13.74 High x High 2.35 NKRPE 2.5 SF
Checks
EH434042 70.39 - - - - - - 2 SF
900M 69.39 - - - - - - 1.5 SF
NK6240 70.56 - - - - - - 1 SD

*-Significance at 5% Level **- Significance at 1% Level

NKRPE- number of kernel rows per ear, NKPR-number of kernels per row, HSW-100 seed weight, EC-ear circumference, OC-oil content
SF-Semi Flint, F-Flint, SD-Semi Dent
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Table 4. Performance of promising hybrids for starch, protein and oil content
a. For starch
Single cross hybrids Mean Starch RH HB EH434042 900M NK6240 GCA effects SCA Other character with
content Female x effects significant SCA effets
(%) male
ARBMH-09-45 72.99 8.23** 6.92** 3.69* 5.17** 3.44* High x High 1.24 NKRPE, HGW, PC
ARBMH-09-15 72.34 7.07** 5.98** 2.78 4.25* 2.53 Low x High 3.09** EC
ARBMH-09-54 72.34 6.37** 5.98** 2.78 4.25* 2.53 High x High 1.46 NKRPE, HGW
ARBMH-09-27 72.32 7.15** 5.95** 2.75 4.22* 2.49 Low x High 2.67** , GYPH
ARBMH-09-07 72.26 8.76** 8.65** 2.66 4.12* 2.4 Low x Low 2.46** GYPH
Checks
EH434042 70.39
900M 69.39
NK6240 70.56
b. For protein
Single cross hybrids Mean protein RH HB EH434042 900M NK6240 GCA effects SCA Other character with
content (%) Female x effects significant SCA effects
male
ARBMH-09-40 15.84 25.41** 15.46* 37.19** 39.12** 32.6** High x Low 2.13** NKRPE, NKPR, SP
ARBMH-09-55 14.89 12.46* 2.13 21.34* 23.05** 17.28* Low x Low 1.87* NKRPE
ARBMH-09-74 14.85 35.6** 32.29** 29.16** 30.98** 24.84** High x Low 0.71 NKPR, YPP
ARBMH-09-50 14.82 10.27 -0.5 20.73* 22.43** 16.69* Low x Low 1.24
ARBMH-09-14 14.81 5.88 -7.35 20.61* 22.3** 16.57* Low x Low 1.82* SH
Checks
EH434042 12.28
900M 12.11
NK6240 12.7
Oil content
Single cross hybrids Mean oil RH HB EH434042 900M NK6240 GCA effects SCA Other character
content Female x effects with significant
(%) male SCA effects
ARBMH-09-27 6.95 18.8** 13.01 12.1 16.81 17.8 High X High 0.74 NKRPE, HGW, GYH
ARBMH-09-28 6.8 22.52** 15.25 9.68 14.29 15.25 High x Low 0.85* GYP
ARBMH-09-42 6.8 27.7** 10.57 9.68 14.29 15.25 High X High 0.77* HGW
ARBMH-09-45 6.8 17.75* 10.57 9.68 14.29 15.25 High x High 0.64 NKRPE, HGW
ARBMH-09-78 6.7 13.08 8.94 8.06 12.61 13.56 High x HIgh 0.62
Checks
EH434042 6.2
900M 5.95
NK6240 5.9

*-significance At 5% Level **- significance At 1% Level

NKRPE- number of kernel rows per ear, NKPR-number of kernels per row, HSW-100 seed weight, EC-ear circumference, SH- shelling percentage,
GPP- grain yield per plant, GYH-Grain yield per hectare, PC- protein content.

Even though, the hybrids had high mean grain yield and specific, being low for some and high for some other crosses.
relatively good amount of standard heterosis, but SCA effects This was also confirmed by the similar study reported by Virik
were nonsignificant. This also indicates that heterosis is cross (1988).

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