Diallelic analysis for lysine and oil contents in maize grains

Abstract

Six S5 lines of maize, with differences for lysine and oil contents in grains, were used to carry out a complete series of diallelic crosses. The resulting 15 hybrids were grown in a field at two nitrogen levels (10 and 130 kg N ha-1). The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were obtained by using the method 4, model I of Griffing for grain yield, and grain lysine and oil contents. Significant (p < 0.001) interaction was observed between GCA and N levels for grain yield, indicating the selection of different lines for each N level. This interaction was not significant for lysine content, but there were significant effects of GCA for this trait at both N levels (p < 0.1). Significant effects were not observed for GCA or SCA for oil content, however a positive correlation was observed between lysine and oil contents in the hybrids, in the lines and even in the control cultivars. The results indicate the effectiveness of selection for lysine content, irrespective of N level, in the studied non-opaque maize lines, and the possibility of achieving both high lysine and oil content in grains.