Estimates of gene effects for some important quantitative plant traits in maize diallel crosses

Nature of gene action was investigated for various agronomic characters such ear length, number of ears per plant, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, 100-grain weight and grain yield per plant in a set of complete diallel crosses, involving six elite maize inbred lines (B 70, EX 228, FR 15, N 28, PA 91, SYP 5). The Vr-Wr graphs indicated over-dominance type of gone action for number of ears per plant while additive type of gene action for all other traits. Inbred line FR 15, and PA 91 were found with possessed most dominant genes for number of ears per plant and ear length respectively. Inbred line B 70 was found to has most dominant genes for 100-grain weight, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row and grain yield per plant. Inbred line B 70 possessed most recessive genes for number of ears per plant. The five characters like ear length, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, 100-grain weight and grain yield per plant were under the additive genetic control and mass selection can be practiced for these characters, whereas number of ears per plant was non-additively controlled and selection for these populations must be practiced with great care to develop pure breeding line. Thus inbred line B 70 was found to have most promising performance while making selection for higher yield.