Abstract:

The primary objective of this study was to understand the breeding potential of local maize varieties in three gorge areas, 98 (7?14) hybrids crossed among 7 testers, which used commonly in three gorge areas, 14 local maize varieties in three gorge areas by NCⅡ mating design were used to estimate combining ability and its genetic parameters of local maize varieties. The results showed that, the general combining ability of the ‘Wenfeng white maize’, ‘Dazhai maize’, ‘Taiyanghe white maize’ in kernel yield per ear, ear length, ear diameter, rows per ear, kernels per row, 100-kernel weight were better. The ‘Wenfeng white maize’ and ‘Dazhai maize’ had more outstanding performance in improving the plant type and yield. All the characters of SCA had highly significant variation, and the range of kernel yield per ear was the highest (from -25.48% to 30.47%). The effect of additive variance was bigger than the effect of dominance variance in all characters. The heritability in broad sense and heritability in narrow sense were both higher in ear length, ear diameter, rows per ear etc seven characters, yet heritability in broad sense of sterile length and kernel yield per ear was bigger than heritability in narrow sense, in addition the heritability in narrow sense were small. So, these characters were selected would be based on their heribility. For example, ear length, ear diameter, rows per ear etc seven characters could be selected in early stage, sterile length and kernel yield per ear ought to be selected in lately stage.