STUDY OF HETEROSIS IN TOP CROSS DERIVATIVES OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Commercial exploitation of heterosis is feasible in maize due to floral morphology and high rate of cross pollination. Heterosis was estimated in 21 top cross derivates .The hybrid CML-269 X NM and CML-251 X NM exhibited significant and positive heterosis for grain yield over mid parent, better parent and checks, whereas, GWL-7 X NM, CML-286 X NM and CML-292 X NM showed significant heterosis for grain yield over mid parent, better parent and economic heterosis over check Narmada Moti. The desirable heterosis was also observed in the cross combinations of CML-269 X NM for days to 50 % tasselling, days to 50 % silking, ear height, days to 75 % maturity , ear length, ear girth, number of grain row per ear, number of grains per row, shelling percentage, 100-kernel weight and protein content.