Abstract
Maize production (Zea mays L.) suffers severe losses due to infestations of Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa). These challenges highlight the need for high-yielding Striga-resistant hybrids. Developing such hybrids requires inbred lines with strong genetic compatibility and combining ability for yield and resistance traits. This study aimed to dissect general and specific combining ability and the underlying gene action for grain yield and resistance to Sa and Sh in tropical and sub-tropical maize, and to identify elite parental lines and F₁ hybrids that combine dual Striga resistance with superior yield performance. The hybrids and parent lines were evaluated during the 2023/2024 growing season in controlled and field environments using an alpha lattice design. The analysis revealed a significant (P < 0.05) effect of the crosses on yield, agronomic traits, and Striga infestation. Non-additive genetic effects were the key drivers of trait inheritance under the study, confirming hybrid breeding's importance. The top general combiners were lines CML540, CLHP0343, and tester TZISTR1248 under S. asiatica conditions, while lines CZL99017 and CML566, and tester TZISTR1174 were top selections under S. hermonthica, and CML540, which had dual resistance across the test environments. Under Sa treatment, hybrids CML540 x TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 were the top three performers, exhibiting high yields of 7.16 t/ha, 7.00 t/ha, and 6.33 t/ha, significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects of 13.55, 31.52, and 17.69, and heterosis at 55.31%, 51.84%, and 104.85%, respectively. Under Sh treatment, CML440 × TZDEEI50, CZL99017 × TZDEEI50, and CML540 × TZISTR1015 were the top selected three hybrids with grain yields of 9.30 t/ha, 7.46 t/ha, and 7.25 t/ha, significant SCA effects of 54.13, 8.47, and 28.63, and higher heterosis of 238.18%, 78.04%, and 41.88%, respectively. Overall, the study selected the following best candidate hybrids: CML540 × TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 under Sa and CML440 × TZDEEI50 under Sh conditions. The best selected general combiner parents were TZISTR1248 for Sa, TZISTR1174 for Sh, and CML540 for dual resistance to anchor future Striga-resistant hybrid maize development to enhance grain yield and agronomic performance.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
Crosses significantly affected yield, agronomic traits and Striga infestation.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The analysis revealed a significant (P < 0.05) effect of the crosses on yield, agronomic traits, and Striga infestation.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Non-additive genetic effects were key drivers of inheritance for the studied traits.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Non-additive genetic effects were the key drivers of trait inheritance under the study, confirming hybrid breeding's importance.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CML540, CLHP0343 and TZISTR1248 were the top general combiners under S. asiatica.
- Material
- CML540, CLHP0343, and tester TZISTR1248e0
- Interactor
- S. asiatica
Striga asiaticae0parasite - Outcome
- top general combinerse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The top general combiners were lines CML540, CLHP0343, and tester TZISTR1248 under S. asiatica conditions”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CZL99017, CML566 and TZISTR1174 were top selections under S. hermonthica.
- Material
- CZL99017 and CML566, and tester TZISTR1174e0
- Interactor
- S. hermonthica
Striga hermonthicae0parasite - Outcome
- top selectionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“lines CZL99017 and CML566, and tester TZISTR1174 were top selections under S. hermonthica”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CML540 showed dual resistance across test environments.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CML540, which had dual resistance across the test environments.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. asiatica, hybrid CML540 x TZISTR1174 yielded 7.16 t/ha and had SCA 13.55 and heterosis 55.31%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sa treatment, hybrids CML540 x TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 were the top three performers, exhibiting high yields of 7.16 t/ha, 7.00 t/ha, and 6.33 t/ha, significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects of 13.55, 31.52, and 17.69, and heterosis at 55.31%, 51.84%, and 104.85%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. asiatica, hybrid CML540 × TZDEEI50 yielded 7.00 t/ha, with SCA 31.52 and heterosis 51.84%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sa treatment, hybrids CML540 x TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 were the top three performers, exhibiting high yields of 7.16 t/ha, 7.00 t/ha, and 6.33 t/ha, significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects of 13.55, 31.52, and 17.69, and heterosis at 55.31%, 51.84%, and 104.85%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. asiatica, hybrid CML539 × TZISTR1174 yielded 6.33 t/ha, with SCA 17.69 and heterosis 104.85%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sa treatment, hybrids CML540 x TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 were the top three performers, exhibiting high yields of 7.16 t/ha, 7.00 t/ha, and 6.33 t/ha, significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects of 13.55, 31.52, and 17.69, and heterosis at 55.31%, 51.84%, and 104.85%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. hermonthica, CML440 × TZDEEI50 yielded 9.30 t/ha, with SCA 54.13 and heterosis 238.18%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sh treatment, CML440 × TZDEEI50, CZL99017 × TZDEEI50, and CML540 × TZISTR1015 were the top selected three hybrids with grain yields of 9.30 t/ha, 7.46 t/ha, and 7.25 t/ha, significant SCA effects of 54.13, 8.47, and 28.63, and higher heterosis of 238.18%, 78.04%, and 41.88%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. hermonthica, CZL99017 × TZDEEI50 yielded 7.46 t/ha, with SCA 8.47 and heterosis 78.04%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sh treatment, CML440 × TZDEEI50, CZL99017 × TZDEEI50, and CML540 × TZISTR1015 were the top selected three hybrids with grain yields of 9.30 t/ha, 7.46 t/ha, and 7.25 t/ha, significant SCA effects of 54.13, 8.47, and 28.63, and higher heterosis of 238.18%, 78.04%, and 41.88%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Under S. hermonthica, CML540 × TZISTR1015 yielded 7.25 t/ha, with SCA 28.63 and heterosis 41.88%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under Sh treatment, CML440 × TZDEEI50, CZL99017 × TZDEEI50, and CML540 × TZISTR1015 were the top selected three hybrids with grain yields of 9.30 t/ha, 7.46 t/ha, and 7.25 t/ha, significant SCA effects of 54.13, 8.47, and 28.63, and higher heterosis of 238.18%, 78.04%, and 41.88%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors selected three candidate hybrids for S. asiatica conditions.
- Material
- CML540 × TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174e0
- Outcome
- best candidate hybridse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Overall, the study selected the following best candidate hybrids: CML540 × TZISTR1174, CML540 × TZDEEI50, and CML539 × TZISTR1174 under Sa”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors selected CML440 × TZDEEI50 as a candidate under S. hermonthica.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CML440 × TZDEEI50 under Sh conditions.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors selected TZISTR1248 as a general combiner parent for S. asiatica.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The best selected general combiner parents were TZISTR1248 for Sa, TZISTR1174 for Sh, and CML540 for dual resistance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors selected TZISTR1174 as a general combiner parent for S. hermonthica.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The best selected general combiner parents were TZISTR1248 for Sa, TZISTR1174 for Sh, and CML540 for dual resistance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors selected CML540 for dual Striga resistance.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The best selected general combiner parents were TZISTR1248 for Sa, TZISTR1174 for Sh, and CML540 for dual resistance”
t0“maize”