Mean Performance and Heterotic Pattern of Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines Adapted to Sub-humid Central Highland of Ethiopia

In spite of abiotic and biotic stresses and low availability of high-yielding cultivars restrict potential production of maize, it is a major food crop in Africa. To overcome this production barrier, promising germplasm must be chosen, combining ability must be understood, and heterotic groups must be formed in order to generate high-yielding maize varieties. The study set out to evaluate plant height, ear height, ear diameter, thousand seed weight, kernel per row, kernel row per ear, and number of ear per plant in order to assess the performance evaluation and heterotic pattern of inbred lines. In 2019, twenty-six inbred lines and two single cross testers were crossed using a line by tester mating design to create fifty-two three way cross F1 hybrids. The experiment, which used an alpha lattice design with two replications, was conducted at the Ambo and Kulumsa Agricultural Research Centers during the 2020 cropping season. Analyses of variance revealed that among the parameters with significant mean squares arising from crosses and lines both within and across locations were grain yield, anthesis date, silking date, plant height, ear height, kernel row per ear, and number of ears per plant. Because of the lines, testers, and crossings for grain yield, anthesis date, silking date, plant height, ear height, kernel row per ear, and number of ear per plant, the line x tester ANOVA results revealed significant mean squares. Due to line x site, line x tester, tester x site, and line x tester x site, there was a noticeable difference in plant height, ear height, and the number of ears per plant. This proved that different environment have different selection criteria for materials and different performance levels. This genetic study Categorized, L1, L22, and L24 under heterotic group A (CEL08008/CEL08047), while L8, L10, L14, L17, L20, and L26 were placed under heterotic group-B (CEL08024/CML561).