Study of heritability estimates and their genetic variability for yield traits and its components in yellow maize (Zea mays L.)

The experiment was conducted in one of the farmers' fields affiliated with the Kirkuk Irrigation Project for the agricultural season (2022-2023). Ten genetic materials (Gimbson , Saganto,DK6050, Agr-183, ZM47W, CML494, IK58, ZP505, ZP670, ZP197) of yellow maize (Zea mays L.) were used in this study. These materials were involved in diallel crosses and were planted in a farmer's field in Kirkuk province using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded for traits such as number of ears per plant, ear length, ear diameter, number of rows per ear, number of kernels per row, number of kernels per ear, 300-kernel weight, and individual plant yield. The results showed that the general combining ability variance components were more significant than one for all the studied traits. There were significant effects of general combining ability in the desired direction for parent (8) for all studied traits. Meanwhile, significant effects of specific combining ability in the desired direction were observed in the crosses (1×3), (1×8), (1×10), (2×5), (2×6), (7×10), and (9×10) for most of the traits. These crosses can be utilized to select individuals who combine the desired traits in segregating generations.