Diallel Analysis of Leaf Area Heterosis and Relationships to Yield in Maize
1973
Johnson, G. R.
Estimates of leaf area index (LAI) at individual leaf positions on 10 commercially adapted maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and their diallel set of crosses, and yields of the F₁ hybrids, were obtained in order that the mode of inheritance of LAI and the relationship of LAI and distribution of LAI within the canopy to yield could be examined. Leaf area estimates were obtained from five randomly chosen plants per plot in an experiment in which the parent inbreds and F¹ hybrids were arranged in two randomized blocks of one-row plots, while yields of the F₁ hybrids were obtained from an experiment in which the crosses were grown in two-row plots arranged in a 7 by 7 simple lattice design in two randomized blocks. Row spacing and population in both experiments were 76 cm and 60,000 plants/ha, respectively. Multiple regression models were used to compute analyses of LAI heterotic effects and the relationship of LAI to yield. The results of the study indicated that: (i) LAI was inherited in a highly heterotic manner; (ii) distribution of leaf area within the canopy accounted for a significant portion of the variation in yield beyond that accounted for by total LAI; and (iii) variation in leaf area near the canopy extremes accounted for most of the yield variation attributable to leaf area distribution.
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