Combining ability under two population sizes for ear traits in maize

Early maturing open pollinated varieties or composites of maize (composite A 51, A 52, A 53, A 54, Rutherford, CI 64 and varieties Bassi Selected and Golden Glow) and their 28 F sub(I) crosses were grown in two plant population densities in a split plot design. The gca and sca effects were highly significant for the characters, ear height, ear girth, cob girth and grain rows. Predominance of additive genetic variance was observed for all the ear characters. Composite Rutherford was the best general combiner for all the characters. Population improvement programme by selecting plant with more ear length, ear girth and number of grain rows per ear was suggested to make yield improvement.