Abstract
This study was conducted to determine combining ability and gene action in elite maize inbred lines under low and high soil nitrogen conditions for hybrid breeding. Forty two tropical inbred lines (three testers and 39 lines) were crossed using line × tester mating design. The resulting 117 F1 hybrids, along with 4 hybrids used as checks, were evaluated using an 11 × 11 lattice design with two replications for grain yield and yield related traits during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons at two sites (Mbalmayo and Nkolbisson). Results revealed predominant additive gene effect under high soil nitrogen (N) conditions. Non-additive gene effect influenced grain yield under low soil and thus could be exploited for hybrid development. Under high N conditions inbred lines CLYN246, J16-1, CLWN201, TL-11-A-1642-5, CLQRCWQ26 and 1368 were good general combiners. Lines CML 343, ATP S6 20-Y-1, CLWN201, 1368, ATP S9 30 Y-1 and CLQRCWQ26 were good general combiners for grain yield under low N. They could be used to develop low N tolerant varieties. Different single cross hybrid combinations were identified for high grain yields under both low and high N conditions. The selected lines and single cross hybrids are a useful source of valuable genetic material for future maize hybrid breeding or direct production under low N.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important and widely grown cereal crops in West and Central Africa
Across low N environments, grain yield ranged from 1539.3 kg ha-1 (CML 358 × 9071) to 3770.51 kg ha-1 (TL-11-A-1642-5 × Exp1 24), with a mean of 2721.9 kg ha-1 (Table 2)
The results of this study suggest that there is genetic variability among the hybrids evaluated, making it possible to identify desirable hybrids for grain yield and other agronomic traits under low Nitrogen (N) conditions
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important and widely grown cereal crops in West and Central Africa. African production represents only 7.9% of the world’s production. This may be because average maize grain yield in Africa is still low compared to developed countries, especially under small-scale farmers’ conditions where many stresses are present. Soil nitrogen deficiency, is a serious concern of maize farmers in Cameroon (Hauser & Nolte, 2002; Ngoko et al, 2002; Nguimgo et al, 2003; The et al, 2013). Continuous cropping over decades with no measures in place to regenerate the soil’s productivity has contributed to decreased soil fertility and, the low level of maize production in Cameroon
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