Line × Tester Analysis of Stomatal Conductance, Chlorophyll Content, Photosynthetic Efficiency, and Transpiration Rate Traits in Maize

This study evaluated seven inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.), three testers and 21 hybrids produced by line × tester mating design. Stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and transpiration rate traits of parents and progenies were observed. The study was conducted in Konya, in the mid-Anatolian region of Turkey. The mean values of the stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and transpiration rate measurements were evaluated using Duncan’s multiple range test for grouping parent and offspring groups. The variance for general combining ability, the variance for specific combining ability, the relative variance, additive variance, dominance variance, √D / A, narrow-sense heritability and broad-sense heritability parameters of the population, along with the heterosis rates of the progenies, were calculated for each trait. The parental general combining abilities and specific combining abilities of the progenies were determined. We observed parents with significant and positive general combining abilities [3.4 (stomatal conductance, transpiration rate); 14.20 (photosynthetic efficiency, transpiration rate)] and their progenies with significant and positive specific combining abilities [3.4 × FRMo 17 (stomatal conductance, transpiration rate); 3.4 × ADK 451 (transpiration rate); 14.20 × FRMo 17 (transpiration rate)]. Results of the study showed the possibility of using physiological properties as selection criteria.