DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH YIELDING AND RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE DOUBLE CROSS MAIZE HYBRIDS UTILIZING 8 X 8DIALLEL METHOD

Abstract

Diallel analysis is one of the methods used to evaluate F₁ and F₂ hybrid crosses for desirable parameters based on mode of gene actions. The experiment entitled “Development of high yielding and resilience to climate change double cross maize hybrids utilizing 8 x 8 diallel method” was selected and conducted at Bacha Khan University Agriculture Research Farm during Kharif season 2022-24. Eight F₁ Maize hybrids were crossed in all possible combinations and produced 72 double Crosse F­₁ hybrids including reciprocals and compared with 8 parents. Experiment was laid out in a partial lattice square design with 8 blocks having 8 entries each with three replications. After analyzing the data on the following parameters: Days to 50% Anthesis, Days to 50% Silking, Days to 50% Anthesis Silking Interval (ASI), Height of Cob, Plant Height and Grain Yield; significant differences were observed among the double cross F₁ hybrids for almost all of the parameters with the exception of the parameters: Number of cobs, Plant height, cob diameter and cob length. The traits having significant results were further subjected to genetic analysis for finding mode of gene actions, genetic components of variation and heritabilities of significant parameters. Highly significant variations were observed for all genetic components using Hayman’s approach regarding grain yield, which indicated presence of additive (A), dominance (B), directional dominant (B₁), non-symmetrical genes distribution. Significant values of maternal (C) and reciprocal effects (D) for all parameters indicated retesting of A and B effects to make them non-significant for having no maternal and reciprocal effects.