Partial diallel and genetic divergence analyses in maize inbred lines

ABSTRACT. In this study, we aimed to estimate general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA, respectively) and to verify genetic divergence (Rogers distance, Unweighted Pair-Group Method Using Arithmetic Average - UPGMA) using microsatellite markers in maize inbred lines. Using a partial diallel scheme, a total of 19 inbred lines were crossed as (9 x 10), which were derived from the single hybrids SG6015 and P30F53, respectively. The 90 hybrids were evaluated in an incomplete randomized block design with common checks and three replications during the 2017-2018 growing season. Flowering time, average plant height, ear height insertion, average ear diameter, ear length, number of lodged and broken plants, mass of 100 grains and grain yield were measured. According to the analysis of variance, GCA, and SCA were significant (p