Amongst cereals in Ethiopia, maize (Zea mays L.) ranks first in terms of total production and grain yield (CSA l997). Despite its importance, the national average for maize yield was low (only l.7 t/ha). This was attributed to several production constraints, including the lack of improved maize varieties (Abera 1982). After the release of improved open pollinating and hybrid varieties, the national average yield increased to 1.93 t/ha. Due to an increasing interest in hybrid maize production, the national maize research program began various activities related to hybrid development, including the determination of heterotic patterns and combining ability amongst different maize germplasms, and the identification of the most desirable crosses for exploiting heterosis. Heterosis receives considerable attention because of its marked effects on grain yield improvement. The amount of heterosis depends largely upon the genetic divergence of the parental materials (Hallauer and Miranda 1988).

Text in English

0311|AGRIS 0301|AL-Maize Program

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection