Estimation of heterosis for grain yield components in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Heterosis plays an important role in achieving improvement in crop production. About 69 F 1 hybrids obtained by crossing twenty three lines and three testers in a line × tester fashion were used to derive the information on degree of heterosis over mid, better and standard parent in maize. Sixty nine crosses and their parents including one check CoH(M)5 were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with two replications. Grain yield per plant recorded the standard heterosis ranged from -47.04 (N10-68x UMI 285-5) to 51.02% (N09-157 x N171-2) and significant positive standard heterosis recorded by fifty two hybrids over the check. For grain yield per plant, high heterosis was observed in four hybrids viz., N09-157 X N171-2 (51.02%) , N09-150 X N148-1 (48.71%) , N10-105 X N148-1 (48.06%) and N09-153 X UMI 285-5 (42.51%). These hybrids also showed high heterosis for many yield contributing traits in desirable directions. Therefore these hybrids can be utilized in future for developing high yielding hybrid varieties as well as for exploiting hybrid vigor.