Aptitud combinatoria y efectos recíprocos en líneas endogámicas de maíz de Valles Altos del centro de México

the aim of this study was to determine the type of gene action involved and the reciprocal effects upon seed yield and agronomic traits in eight inbred maize lines from the high valleys of central mexico. diallel crosses, direct and reciprocals were obtained with the eight lines. eight parental lines and 56 simple crosses were evaluated in two planting dates in order to determine the general combining ability, specific combining ability and the reciprocal effects using griffing's method i. the research was carried out during 2005 at metepec, estado de mexico, mexico. results show differences among genotypes and in gca and sca for most of the evaluated traits. non-additive genetic effects were important for grain yield, days to anthesis and ear length, whereas the additive effects were significant for plant height. parents l1, l2 and l4 showed positive effects in gca for grain yield. besides l4, parents l3, l6 and l7 showed high values for the agronomic traits considered. crosses 8 x 4, 4 x 1 and 2 x 4 were among the high yielding hybrids that also showed high positive values of sca; moreover, the last genotype registered the lowest plant height. the reciprocal effects were significant for plant height and ear length, but of small magnitude than the gca and sca parameters.