Abstract

A line x tester mating design involving sixteen white maize inbred lines as females and two testers as males generated thirty-two single crosses. These hybrids plus three checks were evaluated using a 5 x 7 alpha lattice design replicated twice at the University of Ghana, WACCI research farm during 2015/16 offseason using drip irrigation. The objective of the study was to: assign the tropical inbred lines into heterotic groups. Based on the SCA effect for grain yield, the lines were separated into two heterotic groups. The lines L1, L3, L4, L8, L11 and L14 belonged to tester group 1368, while L2, L5, L6, L7, L9, L10, L12, L13, L15 and L16 belonged to heterotic group of CML 444. This is useful for the development of hybrids and synthetic varieties. Thus, the information generated in the present study will be useful for breeders who want to improve yield and yield-contributing traits of maize.

Key words: Hybrids, heterotic group, line x tester (LxT), maize, yield.