Breeding value of maize hybrids based on heterosis indicators and grain quality traits
Abstract
Purpose. The aim of the study was to determine the breeding value of F1 maize hybrids based on the level of expression of true and hypothetical heterosis for individual productivity traits, ear structural components, and biochemical grain characteristics, as well as to establish the inheritance patterns of the main agronomically valuable traits.
Methods. The research was conducted in 2025 under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The experimental material consisted of F1 hybrids obtained by crossing inbred lines with tester forms. Evaluation was carried out using a set of morphometric traits (ear length and diameter, number of kernels per row, thousand-kernel weight, grain weight per plant) and biochemical grain quality indicators (protein, oil, and starch content). The level of heterosis was determined by calculating true and hypothetical heterosis effects according to the method of D. S. Omarov. The type of trait inheritance was established using Griffing’s phenotypic dominance index. Statistical analysis was performed using standard methods of variation analysis.
Results. It was established that the majority of the studied hybrid combinations exhibited positive heterosis for productivity traits. The highest values of true and hypothetical heterosis for grain weight per plant, ear length and diameter, number of kernels per row, and thousand-kernel weight were recorded in hybrids involving the lines FV 243, LLF 2983, and (LFH1940 × LMH3161) in combination with AK 153. Overdominance was observed for most morphometric and productivity traits, ensuring the superiority of hybrids over the best parental forms. Biochemical grain traits showed differentiated inheritance patterns: protein and oil content in most combinations were inherited according to the overdominance type, whereas starch content predominantly demonstrated negative dominance. The obtained data indicate substantial genetic variability among the studied combinations and the possibility of effective selection of valuable genotypes.
Conclusions. Promising hybrid combinations with a high level of heterotic effect and a favorable combination of productivity and grain quality traits were identified. The predominance of overdominance for most agronomically valuable traits confirms the feasibility of using the studied parental forms in further breeding programs. A comprehensive evaluation based on productivity and grain quality parameters is an effective approach for selecting competitive maize hybrids.
References
2. Beil G. M., Atkins R. E. Inheritance of quantitative characters in grain sorgum. Iowa State Journal. 1965. Vol. 39. Article number 3.
3. de Oliveira J. P., Chaves L. J., Duarte J. B., de Oliveira Ribeiro K., Brasil E. M. Heterosis for oil content in maize populations andhybrids of high quality protein. Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology. 2006. Vol. 6, Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.12702/1984-7033.v06n02a01
4. Elmyhum M. Estimation of combining ability and heterosis of quality protein maize inbred lines. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013. Vol. 8, Iss. 48. P. 6309–6317. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2013.7119
5. Fonseca S., Patterson F. L. Hybrid vigor in a seven‐parent diallel cross in common winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Crop science. 1968. Vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 85-88.
6. Griffing B. Analysis of quantitative geneaction by constant parent regression and related techniques. Genetics. 1950. Vol. 35. P. 303–321. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/35.3.303
7. Havryliuk I., Kovalyshyna H. Analysis of soft winter wheat hybrids for main morphological and productive traits of the ear. Scientific reports of the National university of the life and environmental science of Ukraine. 2025. Vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/2.2025.09
8. Jan M. F., Li M., Alotaibi N. M., Liaqat W., Maqbool A., Altaf M. T., Umar A. Advanced biometrical strategies for genetic analysis and heterosis assessment in maize germplasm. BMC Plant Biology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07782-2
9. Keerthi S., Rao A. U., Ramana A. V., Ramesh G. Relationship between fresh cob yield and yield components of sweet corn. Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences. 2014. Vol. 1, Iss. 4A. P. 227–229. https://doi.org/10.36347/sjavs.2014.v01i04.015
10. Li R., Gao J., Li Y., Yu S., Wang Z. Heterosis for nitrogen use efficiency of maize hybrids enhanced over decades in China. Agriculture. 2022. Vol. 12, Iss. 6. P. 764. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060764
11. Ramadhan M. N. Yield and yield components of maize and soil physical properties as affected by tillage practices and organic mulching. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2021. Vol. 28, Iss. 12. P. 7152–7159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.08.005
12. Sharma H. P., Dhakal K. H., Kharel R., Shrestha J. Estimation of heterosis in yield and yield attributing traits in single cross hybrids of maize. Journal of Maize Research and Development. 2016. Vol. 2, Iss. 1. P. 123–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jmrd.v2i1.16223
13. Shibabaw A., Derebe B., Mengie Y., Beshir O., Getahun W., Wale S., Abewa A. Grain Yield Response of Hybrid Maize Varieties to Planting Densities and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates in Northwestern Amhara. Blue Nile Journal of Agricultural Research. 2025. Vol. 6, Iss. 2. P. 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17959840
14. Tulu D., Tesso B., Azmach G. Heterosis and combining ability analysis of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines adapted to mid-altitude sub-humid agro-ecology of Ethiopia. African Journal of Plant Science. 2018. Vol. 12, Iss. 3. P. 47–57. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPS2017.1612
15. Rojaria V., Kumar A., Bijarnia S., Debbarma P., Kumar A. Association Studies for Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Maize. Biological Forum – An International Journal. 2023. Vol. 15, Iss. 2. P. 676–679. URL: https://www.researchtrend.net/bfij/pdf/Association-Studies-for-Grain-Yield-and-Yield-Related-Traits-in-Maize-Vinay-Rojaria-106.pdf
16. Yang X., Shaw R. K., Li L., Jiang F., Fan X. Novel candidate genes and genetic basis analysis of kernel starch content in tropical maize. BMC Plant Biology. 2025. Vol. 25, Iss. 1. P. 105. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06125-5
17. Прудніков В. В., Ковалишина Г. М. Морфологічна оцінка батьківських компонентів кукурудзи (Zea mays L.) як індикатор їх адаптивного потенціалу в умовах Правобережного Лісостепу. Землеробство та рослинництво: теорія і практика. 2025. № 4. С. 110–119. https://doi.org/10.54651/agri.2025.04.13
18. Спряжка С. Підбір вихідного матеріалу для створення гібридів кукурудзи за основними біохімічними показниками : дис. … д-ра філософії в галузі сіл. госп-ва : 201. Київ, 2023. 194 с.
19. Спряжка Р. О., Жемойда В. Л. Ступінь та характер ефектів гетерозису ліній кукурудзи за показниками якості зерна. Генетичні ресурси рослин. 2022. № 30. С. 76–87. https://doi.org/10.36814/pgr.2022.30.07
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
