Genetic analysis of xenia effects in high oil maize lines

Twenty high oil inbred lines and three normal maize testers were mated in a Line x Tester mating design and 60 crosses were developed to study the xenia effect of high oil inbred lines on the three normal maize testers and the gene action. Xenia analysis of F1 seeds along with the parents and checks was carried out. Mean squares due to parental seeds and F1 seeds were found significant for all characters. Additive gene action was found important for embryo weight and endosperm weight whereas dominance gene action was found important for protein content and in case of oil content both additive and dominance gene action were of equal importance. Six lines viz., L11, L12, L16, L17, L6 and L3 were observed to be good combiners for oil content along with tester T3. Oil content and protein content of the F1 seeds was higher than the check hybrid Buland. Ratio of endosperm weight/embryo weight of these F1 seeds was less than the check hybrid Buland. Present studies revealed that use of high oil pollinators lead to improvement in oil content of F1 seed.