Estimation of Heterosis and Combining Ability in Maize for Resistance to Fusarium Ear Rot

In order to estimate the genetic parameters in ressitance to fusarium ear rot, this study was carried out using complete diallel crosses of five maize inbred lines. Twenty five genotypes including crosses and reciprocals, as well as parents, were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications, in 2005. Twenty plants were artificially inoculated in each plot with conidia of Fusarium verticillioides, and disease severity and Percentage of infected ears were assessed on them at maturity stage. Diallel analysis by Grifing's method one, revealed the importance of additive and non-additive gene effects in genetic control of disease severity and percentage of infected ears. Significant reciprocals effects showed that maternal effects could be important in inheritance of disease severity. Lines K18 and K74/1 showed the highest negative and positive combining ability for disease severity, respectively