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VOL. 8, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Combining ability and heterosis studies in maize (Zea mays L.) using quadriallel cross analysis
Authors
Siddharth Chaudhary, Kanhaiya Lal, Vishal Singh, S N Tripathi
Abstract
The present investigation entitled
"Combining Ability and Heterosis Studies in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Using Quadriallel Analysis" was carried out to evaluate average line main
effects (g_i), two-line (sij), three-line (Sijk), and four-line interaction
effects (Sijkl), along with heterotic responses for grain yield and
quantitative traits in maize. Five inbred lines (HUZM-21, HUZM-22, HUZM-23,
HUZM-24, and HUZM-25) were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design. Analysis of
variance revealed significant variation among tested double-cross hybrids for
all the traits. Main effects—including 1-line general, 2-line arrangement, and
3-line arrangement—were significant across all traits, whereas specific effects
(2-line, 3-line, 4-line) and 4-line arrangements were non-significant. Due to using
five parents, only 2-line specific variance could be estimated (3-line and
4-line specific variances require parents, per Rawlings and Cockerham, 1962b)
[11]. Additive effects accounted for most genetic variance, while
arrangement effects were driven by dominance and epistasis. Evaluation of
Average Line Main Effects (gi) values identified HUZM-24 (gi = +6.13 for
biological yield; +0.38 for cob weight) and HUZM-25 (gi = +5.86 for biological
yield; +1.66 for plant height; +1.44 for grain yield) as the best general
combiners for vegetative biomass, ear characteristics, and yield components.
For maturity parameters, HUZM-25 manifested desirable negative main effects for
days to 50% tasseling (gi = -0.33) and days to 50% silking (gi = -0.35)
indicating its breeding utility for earliness. Specific combining interaction
effects (Two-Line Interactions (sij) revealed significant positive values for
grain yield and kernel rows per cob in specific parent combinations, notably
involving parent line HUZM-24 and HUZM-23. Three-line arrangement 123 showed
prominent positive interaction effects for plant height (Sijk = +5.51) and
biological yield (Sijk = +2.99). Among four-line arrangements, interaction
effect Sijkl for combination 1234 gave high positive contributions for plant
height (+13.52) and biological yield (+3.02), showing strong non-additive gene
action in double-cross hybrids. Outstanding heterosis over mid-parent (MPH) and
standard variety (SH) for grain yield was registered in double-cross
HUZM-(25×24)×(22×21) (103.12% MPH, 43.47% SH) and single-cross HUZM-25×24
(108.03% MPH). Overall, both additive (gi) and non-additive interaction
components (sij, Sijk, Sijkl) govern yield determination, highlighting HUZM-25
and HUZM-24 as ideal parental candidates for commercial hybrid breeding.
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Pages:458-464
How to cite this article:
Siddharth Chaudhary, Kanhaiya Lal, Vishal Singh, S N Tripathi "Combining ability and heterosis studies in maize (<i>Zea mays L.</i>) using quadriallel cross analysis". International Journal of Agriculture and Plant Science, Vol 8, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 458-464
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