Single-cross maize hybrids with mid and better parent heterosis in growth and yield attributing traits

From October 6, 2015, to March 5, 2016, in research field of the National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal, an experiment was conducted to assess mid parent and better parent heterosis in growth and yield traits among single-cross maize hybrids. In a randomized complete block design with three replications, eleven maize hybrids were evaluated. The results showed that mid parent and better parent heterosis were considerably greater for yield traits viz cob length (67.1, 49.6%), cob diameter (113, 93.6%), number of kernel rows per cob (40, 27.6%), number of kernels per row (134.5, 98%), and test weight (92.2, 96.4%). The highest mid-parent heterosis for growth and yield attributing traits was found in RML-98/RL-105, followed by RML-5/RL-105, RML95/RL-105, and RML-4/NML-2. The hybrid RML-98/RL-105 had the highest better parent heterosis for growth and yield attributing traits, followed by RML-5/RL-105, RML-95/RL-105, and RML-4/NML-2. These findings suggested that hybrids like RML98/RL-105, RML-5/RL-105, RML-95/RL-105, and RML- 4/NML-2 are promising hybrids that the farmers should grow these hybrids in order to increase maize production