Abstract :
A total of ten inbred lines of maize was used to predict the performance of double cross hybrids. The performance of predicted 630 double crosses was estimated on the basis of performance of their constituent single crosses. The predicted mean performance for grain yield per plant of 630 double crosses varied from 91.52 [(CML-83) x (CML-141)] x [(CML-3) x (CML- 117)] to 142.88 g [(CML-601-S4-2-3) x (CML-107)] x [(CML-83) x (Pop 34-C5-HC-86-2-1# (x) 5-b)]. The expected yield performance of these crosses was 142.83, 142.15, 140.00 and 130.00 138.67 g/plant respectively, whereas the grain yield per plant of the best check variety, Suwan was only 120.26 g. The double cross [(CM 601-S4-2-3) x (CML-107)] x [(CML-107)] x [(CML-83)] x (Pop 34-C5-HC-86-2-1#(x) 5-b)] predicted better for most of the characters viz., earliness in 50 per cent silking and maturity, short plant and ear height, longer and thicker ears, average 500 kernel weight and number of kernel rows, short vegetative growth, medium grain filling and average grain moisture content. Similarly the second top ranking double cross [(M9 x CM-601)-(x)-S4-1) x (Pop 30-C3-P5-83)] x [(CML-3) x (CML-117)] was also expected to perform better for most of the desirable traits. Therefore, these two crosses may be used as double cross hybrids for breeding programme.
