EVALUATION OF THE COMBINING ABILITY OF 20 MAIZE LINES IN A PARTIAL DIALLEL CROSS

Aiming to identify inbred lines derived from two materials of maize (Z ea mays L.) of different genetic basis to be used for obtaning more st able hybrids, a diallelic cross was carried out generating 100 single crosses which were evaluated at Sete Lagoas (MG), Linhares (ES) and Ar acaju (SE). A simple 10 x 10 Lattice design with two replications per location was used. Data were collected for harvested ear in kg/ha, and submitted to a genetic analysis. The combined analysis showed signifi cance for the interactions of hybrids, and for general and especific c ombining ability with locations. For the individual analysis within lo cations the mean square estimates were also significant (P<0,01) for h ybrids and general combining ability. The relative magnitude of genera l and specific combining ability estimates showed a predominance of ad ditive genic effects. A specificity of hybrids for each location was o bserved. Hybrids L7 x L4', L7 x L7' and L1 x L9' were the most product ive at Sete Lagoas, Linhares and Aracaju, respectively.