Determination of combining ability and hybrid performance of in vivo induced dihaploid maize (Zea mays L.) lines

Line x tester analysis of maize hybrids using four lines which were developed by in-vivo double haploid technique and three inbred lines (tester) with the parents and check cultivars were tested in a complete randomized block design with three replications at Bursa, Manisa and Sakarya locations in 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. The main aims of this study is to estimate general (GCA) and spesific combining ability (SCA), heterosis and heterobeltiosis values in order to determine the most suitable parents and promising hybrid combinations for number of flowering days, plant height, first ear height and other yield response parameters such as 1000 kernels weight, ear length, ear diameter, row numbers per ear, and kernel numbers per row. According to results from this study, all the measured traits were under the non additive gene action with the exception of ear diameter. Test hybrids which were produced from double haploid technique resulted in lower grain yielding than check cultivars. The highest grain yield (1574,1 kg/ha) was obtained from KH2 x T2 hybrid in average of the test locations. In all hybrids, number of flowering days showed a negative heterosis. On the other hand, parent of KH2 showed the highest general combining ability in most of yield response parameters, such as row numbers per ear, kernel numbers per row, ear diameter, and 1000 kernels weight, indicating that line may be used in producing high yielding maize hybrids.