Different Methods for Detecting Heterotic Groups in Maize

Comparing between different methods for classifying 12 maize inbred lines to heterotic groups was achieved using general and specific combining ability effects; agronomic traits to the maize inbreds per se; and ISSR-markers. The results of line-tester design showed that Giza656 lines had the highest yield for the cross with Gemmiza 1021 tester (7.20 ton per hectare) at Nubaria, while Giza655 lines had the highest yield for the cross with Gemmiza 1021 tester (8.24 ton per hectare) at Gemmiza. Regarding Heterotic specific and General Combining Abilities, the inbred lines were grouped into three groups as their testers were, but groups differed from Nubaria to Gemmiza locations. The classification due to Inter Simple Sequence Repeats markers have agreement with pedigree data more than the HSGCA and agronomic characters, because the HSGCA method affected by testers, lines, environments, and the interactions between all of them, also, agronomic character method need to plant the inbreds and evaluate them at more locations and more seasons .Furthermore, all these cautions will not discard the environmental effects but they will reduce it to the minimum values. On the other hand, molecular marker will keep time and efforts needed to evaluate the inbred lines.