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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp1 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Genetic architecture of yield and adaptive traits in maize under rainfed conditions using diallel analysis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13917
Submitted
30 January 2026
Published
08-04-2026

Abstract

Hybrid development under rainfed environments requires precise identification of superior parental combinations governed by non-additive gene action. The present study was conducted at the Maize Breeding Research Sub-Station (SKUAST-Jammu), Poonch, during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 under rainfed subtropical conditions to evaluate combining ability and cross-direction effects in maize. Eight diverse inbred lines were crossed in a full diallel design, generating 56 F₁ hybrids that were evaluated along with parents in a randomized block design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all 14 phenological, morphological, cob and yield-related traits studied. Full diallel analysis following Griffing’s Method I (fixed model) showed significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects, with SCA variance exceeding GCA variance for grain yield per plant (Mean square (MS) = 21119.35) and kernels per cob (MS = 88387.18), indicating predominance of non-additive gene action. A total of four parental lines (CML-141, DMR-649, PMS-116 and IB-3012) exhibited significant positive GCA effects for grain yield and major yield components. A total of three cross combinations, namely CML-141 × DMR-649, PMS-116 × CML-150 and IB-3012 × CML-150, expressed significant positive SCA effects for grain yield, while several crosses showed desirable negative SCA effects for flowering and maturity traits, indicating earliness. Reciprocal effects were significant in only a few combinations, suggesting limited maternal influence. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of SCA-based selection for identifying superior hybrids and provide a practical genetic framework for developing high-yielding and adaptable maize hybrids suited to rainfed agro-ecologies of the north-western Himalayan region.

 

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