Abstract
A half diallel analysis among five inbred lines of maize (OH40, N28, W17.161, B57 and Agr183) was done. Inbred lines and crosses were planted using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were taken for traits: plant height, upper ear height, number of ears per plant, length and diameter of ear, number of rows per ear, number of grains per ear, 100 grain weight and grain yield per plant. The results showed that mean squares of genotypes, general and specific combining abilities were significant for all traits. Marked significant heterosis was observed for almost all the traits studied. It was shown that dominant variance was more than additive one for all traits except number of grains per ear. The two inbred lines OH40 and B57 were good general combiners for the most traits, and the crosses (N28 x OH40) and (B57 x N28) were the best specific combinors. Broad sense heritability was high for all the traits while narrow sense was high for number of grains per ear. The genetic advance as percent of the mean was moderate for number of grains per ear and low for the remainder traits. Average degree of dominance exceeded one for all the studied traits, and this an indication of the presence of over dominance.
