Heterotic patterns in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.): II. Crosses between European winter and Chinese semi-winter lines

Chinese semi-winter rapeseed is genetically diverse from European winter rapeseed. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the potential of semi-winter rapeseed for winter rapeseed hybrid breeding, (2) to assess the relative importance of general combining ability (GCA) vs. specific combining ability (SCA) among combinations between Chinese semi-winter and European winter rapeseed, and (3) to compare the strategies to predict heterosis based on parental genetic distance (GD) estimated from AFLP marker data and GCA for hybrid performance. Four winter male sterile lines from Germany as testers were crossed with 14 Chinese semi-winter rapeseed lines to develop 56 hybrids, which were evaluated together with their parents and commercial hybrids for seed yield, oil content and protein content under three environments in Germany. The Chinese parental lines were not adapted to local environmental conditions as demonstrated by lacking winter hardiness and poor seed yields per se . However, the hybrids between the Chinese parents and the adapted winter rapeseed lines exhibited high heterosis for seed yield. About 20% of the hybrids were significantly superior to the respective hybrid control under three environments. Additive gene effects mainly contributed to hybrid performance since the variance components of GCA were higher as compared with SCA. The correlation between parental GD and hybrid performance was found to be low whereas the correlation between GCA and hybrid performance was high and significant, with correlation coefficients of 0.95 for seed yield, 0.87 for oil content, and 0.91 for protein content, indicating that GCA can predict hybrid performance. These results demonstrate that Chinese semi-winter rapeseed germplasm has a great potential to increase seed yield in winter rapeseed hybrid breeding programmes in Europe.     

Relationship of genetic distance and hybrid performance in hybrids derived from a new photoperiod-thermo sensitive male sterile wheat line 337S

Heterosis has been exploited in many crops and made a significant contribution to the world food supply. Genetic distance (GD) is one of valuable criteria for selecting parents in hybrid breeding. The objectives of this study were to estimate GD between a novel photoperiod-thermo sensitive male sterile wheat line 337S and several common cultivars using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and to evaluate the relationship of GD and heterosis. The line 337S, as a maternal parent, was crossed with 16 common wheat varieties to produce 16 hybrids. Eight agronomic traits were investigated for the parents and F1 hybrids. Mid-parent heterosis (MPH) and specific combining ability (SCA) were calculated. GD and cluster analysis were performed among the 17 parents. The correlations of GD with F1 performance, MPH and SCA were analyzed. The results showed that GD estimates among the 17 parents averaged 0.42 with a range from 0.26 to 0.57, and the averaged GD between 337S and the 16 parental cultivars was 0.44. Cluster analysis separated the 17 parents into three main groups. SSR markers were useful in analyzing genetic divergences among the 17 parental lines. However, GD based on SSR markers poorly correlated with F1 performance, MPH and SCA. Thus, GD revealed by SSR markers can not provide a reliable prediction in practical wheat hybrid breeding.     

Hybrid performance and heterosis in spring bread wheat, and their relations to SSR-based genetic distances and coefficients of parentage

Development of hybrids is considered to be a promising avenue to enhance the yield potential of crops. We investigated (i) the amount of heterosis observed in hybrid progeny, (ii) relative importance of general (GCA) versus specific (SCA) combining ability, and (iii) the relationship between heterosis and genetic distance measures in four agronomic traits of spring bread wheat. Eight male and 14 female lines, as well as 112 hybrids produced in a factorial design were grown in replicated trials at two environments in Mexico. Principal coordinate analysis based on Rogers' distance (RD) estimates calculated from 113 SSRs revealed three different groups of parents. Mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for grain yield averaged 0.02 t ha⁻¹ (0.5%) and varied from −15.33% to 14.13%. MPH and hybrid performance (F1P) were higher for intra-group hybrids than for inter-group hybrids, with low values observed in inter-group crosses involving two non-adapted Chinese parents. Combined analyses of variance revealed significant differences among parents and among hybrids. Estimates of GCA variances were more important than SCA variances for all traits. Tight correlations of GCA with line per se performance, and mid-parent value with F1P were observed for all traits. In contrast, correlations of MPH with RD and coefficient of parentage were not significant. It was concluded that the level of heterosis in spring wheat was too low to warrant a commercial exploitation in hybrids. SSRs proved to be a powerful tool for the identification of divergent groups in advanced wheat breeding materials.     

Relationship between phenotypic and genetic diversity of parental genotypes and the specific combining ability and heterosis effects in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the genetic distances (GD) and phenotypic distances (PD) of parents and the specific combining ability (SCA) and heterosis effects. The experiment comprised 18 parental genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and 76 F₂ hybrids, obtained after crossing in a line × tester scheme. Parents and hybrids were examined in a field experiment conducted in a block design with three replications. SCA as well as mid-parent heterosis effects were estimated for selected morphological and technological traits. PDs and GDs were investigated between pairs of parental genotypes. GD between parental genotypes was evaluated by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Heterosis was observed in all hybrids, and protein content exhibited the highest heterosis among the seven examined traits. The relationship between PD and GD as well as the SCA and mid-parent heterosis effects were evaluated using correlation coefficient. The correlation between PD, SCA and heterosis were low and not significant for the examined traits, whereas the correlation between SCA, heterosis and GDs were significant for protein content and rheological properties. The results indicate that GDs between parents can be used to predict performance of hybrids for selected technological traits.     

Heterosis,molecular diversity,combining ability and their interrelationships in short duration maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) across the environments

Five inbred lines, 10 single cross maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids and two standard cultivars as check were used to study the combining abilities and heterosis under three environmental conditions. Random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) markers were used to study the genetic diversity (GD) and further to analyze relationship of RAPDs based GD with combining ability and heterosis in short duration maize. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients and linear regressions were analyzed to identify the most important factor determining heterosis and per se performance of the hybrids. Variances due to general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and their interactions with environment were found to be significant. Twenty random primers generated 179 RAPD fragments. Of these, 102 RAPD fragments were polymorphic. GD was determined using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient, and a dendogram was constructed by UPGMA cluster analysis. The RAPDs based GD exhibited non-significant negative or positive association, non-significant linear regression along with very low coefficient of determination (R ²) with SCA, high and mid parent heterosis (HP and MP) and per se performance of the hybrids. Significant positive correlations and regressions along with high coefficients of determination were recorded for SCA with HP, MP and per se performance of the hybrids. The HP and MP also established significant positive association and linear regression along with high coefficient of determination with per se performance of hybrids whereas the parental mean did not establish any significant correlations with the GD, HPH, MPH and grain yield of F₁s. The present investigation, therefore, did not find any role of RAPDs based GD in determining hybrid heterosis and hybrid performance in short duration sub-tropical maize. The SCA, however, has emerged as the most important factor in determination of heterosis as well as per se performance of the hybrids in short duration maize.     

甜瓜雌雄异花同株近等基因系的构建及近等性评价

雌雄异花同株类型在甜瓜杂交制种时可部分免除人工去雄,确保杂交种纯度,所以,对杂种优势利用中有着重要价值.为了研究和利用控制甜瓜雌雄异花同株基因A,用雌雄异花同株材料Mr作母本P1,雄花两性花材料Mm作父本P2,用P1做轮回亲本与F1杂交,经连续回交并最终自交纯化,获得雌雄异花同株近等基因系(BC6F4).用形态相似法和AFLP标记对获得的近等基因系和轮回亲本进行分析,结果表明:(1)Mr xMm的F2与BC6S1分离群体中,雌雄异花同株株数与雄花两性花株数符合3:1比例,回交群体中雌雄异花同株株数和雄花两性花株数符合1:1的比例;在发育期、果皮色、网纹等农艺性状上没有明显差异;(2)用448对AFLP引物检测轮回亲本和近等基因系之间多态性,有417对引物没有多态性,31对有多态性,统计得其遗传相似系数为99.73%;(3)平均每个AFLP引物对可扩增出46.8条带,说明AFLP揭示的遗传信息量很高,是一种评价近等性较理想的分子标记,这与以往结果一致.     

Inheritance mode of fruit traits in melon: Heterosis for fruit shape and its correlation with genetic distance

Fruit quality traits were studied in 12 exotic accessions and their hybrids with a “Piel de Sapo” inodorus melon cultivar. The genetic relationships among these genotypes were assessed with 16 microsatellite markers, which agreed with the classification of Cucumis callosus, C. pubescens and C. trigonus as accessions within C. melo. There were very large differences between all the exotic accessions and “Piel de Sapo” genotype for fruit traits. When the hybrids were analysed, three different situations regarding mid parent heterosis were found, depending on the trait: no heterosis (soluble solid concentration), highly variable, from negative to positive (fruit weight and fruit diameter) and general positive heterosis (ovary shape, fruit length and fruit shape). Best parent heterosis for fruit shape was also common among hybrids. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.81) was detected between fruit shape and fruit length heterosis, suggesting that fruit shape heterosis is caused mainly by the enlargement of the fruit longitudinally. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.84) between heterosis for fruit shape and genetic distance, as estimated with microsatellites, was also found. These results, together with the previously reported observation that melon fruit shape is polygenic and highly heritable, makes the genetics of melon fruit shape a suitable system for dissecting the genetic and molecular basis of heterosis.     

Relationship between molecular marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance in intra- and interspecific hybrids of cotton

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between parental molecular marker diversity and hybrid performance in both intra‐ and interspecific hybrids of cotton to evaluate the feasibility of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers. Three cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines were crossed with 10 restorer lines to produce 22 F₁ hybrids during 2003. Of 22 F₁s, 14 hybrids were intraspecific (Gossypium hirsutum × G. hirsutum) and eight interspecific (G. hirsutum × G. barbadense). These 22 F₁ hybrids and their parents were evaluated for yield and fibre quality traits at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China during 2004 and 2005. Genetic distances (GD) among the parents were calculated from 56 random‐amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) and 66 simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker data, and their correlation with hybrid performance and heterosis were analysed. The parents could be discriminated into G. hirsutum and G. barbadense clusters by cluster analysis based on both RAPD and SSR markers data. The correlation (r = 0.503, P ≤ 0.05) was calculated between GD_rapd (GD based on RAPD markers) and GD_ssr (GD based on SSR markers). Correlation of GD with hybrid performance and heterosis differed considerably between intra‐ and interspecific hybrids. The correlation between GD and hybrid performance was non‐significant for most of traits within the hybrids of G. hirsutum species. However, it was significantly and positively correlated for fibre length, fibre strength and elongation in interspecific hybrids. The relationship between GD and heterosis was observed to be positively significant for boll weight within hybrids of G. hirsutum with significant and negative correlations for fibre length and elongation. In conclusion, the power of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers in cotton is low. But, the relationship between SSR marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance can be used to predict fibre length during interspecific hybrid cotton breeding.     

Heterosis,combining ability and genetic effect,and relationship with genetic distance based on a diallel of hybrids from five diverse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium barbadense</Emphasis> cotton genotypes

The cultivated tetraploid Gossypium barbadense L. cotton produces superior natural fibers for the textile industry in the world. However, the possibility in utilization of heterosis to further increase its lint yield has not been extensively explored. In this study, two commercial US Pima cotton cultivars and three exotic G. barbadense lines, together with all of their possible hybrids in F₁ and F₂ progeny without reciprocals, were tested for lint yield, yield components, and fiber quality traits in four environments in 2005–2007. With a few exceptions, genotype (G), environment (E), and G × E were all significant or highly significant for all the traits studied. General combining ability (GCA) variances for all the traits in both F₁ and F₂ were also significant, while specific combining ability (SCA) variances were detected only for lint yield, fiber length, and micronaire in both generations and boll weight in F₁. GCA × E was also detected for lint percent, seed index, and fiber length in both F₁ and F₂, and boll weight in F₁, but none of the traits had significant SCA × E. As a group, F₁ and F₂ out-yielded the parent group by 20–40% and 6–10%, respectively. Mid-parent heterosis (MPH) for lint yield in F₁ was generally positive, ranging from ?4.7 to 116.4% with an average of 21.2–48.7%, while lint yield MPH in F₂ ranged from ?23.3 to 69.4% with an average of 6.4–12.4%. However, useful heterosis in lint yield was only detected in the hybrid between the two US commercial cultivars Pima S-7 and DP 340. MPH for other traits was low or not detected. MPH in F₂ was lower than that in F₁ but they were generally positively correlated. The genetic distances (GD) of the parents (based on 467 polymorphic RAPD and AFLP markers) between the five parents was not consistently correlated with MPH and SCA of their hybrids and dominant effects for lint yield and other traits. However, significant and positive correlations between GD of parents and the performance of their hybrids were detected for lint yield, lint percentage, and lint index in both F₁ and F₂ in most of the tests. GD of parents was also correlated with their GCA and additive effects in lint yield, lint percent, lint index, micronaire, plant height, and elongation. The results suggest that the close correlation between GD and hybrid performance per se was mainly due to the existence of GCA and additive effects from parents.     

Relationship between hybrid performance and genetic diversity based on RAPD markers in wheat, Triticum aestivum L.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were generated from 20 wheat, Triticum aestivum lines. Fifty-four fragments generated by six primers of a 10-mer arbitrary sequence were used to study their potential power in differentiating parents with different characteristics and predicting the yield performance of hybrids produced from these parents. Experimental results showed that the 20 wheat lines were divided into four groups. Group I was characterized by more grains per spike, group II by heavy grains and group III by more spikes per unit area and short plants; group IV was similar to group III but had a much higher biomass yield and grain yield. Hybrids from parents in different groups were generally superior to most hybrids from parents in the same group. Both yield performance and heterosis of hybrids from parents between group I and group III were much better than those of other intergroup hybrids. These results suggest that, based on RAPD markers, it is possible to differentiate wheat lines with different performances and that the classification of parents from these markers is of predictive value for developing superior hybrids. However, genetic distance (GD) based on RAPD markers was not significantly correlated with hybrid performance and heterosis. It appears to be impossible to predict hybrid performance from GD itself.     

Combining ability,heterosis and genetic diversity in tropical maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) under stress and non-stress conditions

Drought and low soil fertility are considered the most important abiotic stresses limiting maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge of the combining ability and diversity of inbred lines with tolerance to the two stresses and for those used as testers would be beneficial in setting breeding strategies for stress and nonstress environments. We used 15 tropical maize inbred lines to (i) evaluate the combining ability for grain yield (GY), (ii) assess the genetic diversity of this set of inbred lines using RFLP, SSR, and AFLP markers, (iii) estimate heterosis and assess the relationship between F₁ hybrid performance, genetic diversity and heterosis, and (iv) assess genotype × environment interaction of inbred lines and their hybrids. The F₁ diallel hybrids and parental inbreds were evaluated under drought stress, low N stress, and well-watered conditions at six locations in three countries. General combining ability (GCA) effects were highly significant (P < 0.01) for GY across stresses and well-watered environments. Inbred lines CML258, CML339, CML341, and CML343 had the best GCA effects for GY across environments. Additive genetic effects were more important for GY under drought stress and well-watered conditions but not under low N stress, suggesting different gene action in control of GY. Clustering based on genetic distance (GD) calculated using combined marker data grouped lines according to pedigree. Positive correlation was found between midparent heterosis (MPH) and specific combining ability (SCA), GD and GY. Hybrid breeding program targeting stress environments would benefit from the accumulation of favorable alleles for drought tolerance in both parental lines.     

Relationship between heterosis and genetic distance based on morphological traits and AFLP markers in pepper

Genetic diversity is considered as one of the criteria for the selection of parents for hybrid breeding. The present study was undertaken to evaluate genetic divergence among seven pepper cultivars and to assess the relationship between heterosis and parental genetic distance. Twenty‐one F₁ hybrids and seven parents were evaluated for 15 morphological characters in a greenhouse and in the field. The parents were examined for DNA polymorphisms using six amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations. Cluster analysis using two genetic distance measures grouped the seven parents differently. Mid‐parent and high‐parent heterosis was observed for most characters. Most hybrids outperformed the parental lines for fruit yield, earliness and plant height. Morphological and AFLP‐based distance measurements were efficient enough to allocate pepper genotypes into heterotic groups. The correlations of morphological distances with mid‐parent heterosis were significant for days to flowering and maturity, suggesting earliness can be predicted from morphological distances of parental lines. However, the correlations of AFLP‐measured genetic distances with mid‐ and high‐parent heterosis were non‐significant for all characters, except for fruit diameter, and proved to be of no predictive value.     

棉花杂种优势与几种生理生化指标的相关性

对８个陆地棉杂种及其亲本的四种生理生化指标进行了测定，并研究了这些指标与杂种产量优势的相关性，结果表明：幼芽匀浆互补法对Ｆ１皮棉超亲优势、中亲优势的预测相符率分别为８７．５％和７５．０％；杂种萌动种子ＡＴＰ含量普遍高于双亲平均值。超亲优势、中亲优势与杂种ＡＴＰ含量及双亲ＡＴＰ含量的平均值均呈正相关，且中亲优势与杂种ＡＴＰ含量相关显著（ｒ＝０．７１８８，Ｐ〈０．０５）；杂种产量优势与盛蕾期、盛花期的     

玉米杂交种及其亲本苗期性状对低氮胁迫的动态响应

以玉米杂交种先玉335及其亲本（PH6WC、PH4CV）和豫玉22及其亲本（综3、87-1）为试验材料,通过水培方法,设置低氮（0.04mmol/L,LN）和正常氮素（2mmol/L,CK）水平2个处理,分别在培养3、7和14d后,对其幼苗生物量积累、叶片和根系表型、叶绿素及氮素含量等进行分析,探究低氮胁迫下玉米杂交种及其亲本幼苗性状的动态变化。结果表明,玉米苗期根系对低氮的响应要早于地上部,且杂交种对低氮的响应比亲本更为迅速。在CK和LN处理下,杂交种幼苗的多个性状均存在中亲和超亲优势,豫玉22的根尖数、根系氮积累量占比和先玉335的总根长、根表面积及根尖数的杂种优势在3个时间点与CK处理相比均有较大幅度提高。通过耐低氮指数分析发现,杂交种的耐低氮能力介于2个亲本之间或与其中1个亲本接近。     

集约化类型棉花种间杂种生理基础

试验于1987～1989年在乌兹别克共和国实验生物研究所和塔什干农学院进行。研究结果表明,用矮秆、早熟陆地棉和海岛棉杂交,F_1的营养生长优势弱,而生殖优势强。集约化类型陆地棉和海岛棉杂交种的叶面积小,叶绿体数量少,而单叶绿体的光合作用强度和光化学活性增强,杂交种可以很经济地利用细胞资源。试验结果还显示,陆地棉、海岛棉栽培种与野生、半野生亚种的杂交后代表现出明显的核质基因互作效应。当野生、半野生棉为母本时,后代的主茎高度,果枝长度,叶面积和根系发育受到抑制。     

生育进程相近的谷子杂交种两系亲本的选育及其杂种优势分析

利用“两系”进行谷子杂种优势制杂交种时,不育系抽穗期和开花期常较恢复系早,二者只有错期播种才可在花期相遇并杂交结实。通过改良现有不育系与抗除草剂恢复系抽穗期和开花期,选育出符合谷子“两系”改良育种目标的优良高度雄性不育系3个（Y1A、Y2A和Y3A）及抗除草剂拿捕净恢复系5个（K17-1、K18-49、K18-54、K18-62和K18-70）,按NCII不完全双列杂交组配15个组合,分析亲本和杂交组合配合力、超亲优势及超标优势,预测其杂种优势。结果显示,亲本的配合力各不相同,有不同优良农艺性状选择方面利用价值;杂交组合间各性状超亲优势和超标优势表现存在差异,但杂种优势无关联、无规律性,分析预测亲本存在杂种优势。同时,“两系”亲本各自性状表现优良,选出的杂交组合Y3A×K18-49具有强杂种优势,可作为苗头杂交种继续进行杂种优势育种。本研究结果为谷子杂交种制种提供了可同期播种的“两系”亲本及苗头优良杂交种,简化了谷子杂交制种环节。     

结球甘蓝产量性状的配合力与杂种优势分析

结球甘蓝全株重和叶球重是其产量性状的重要构成因素。研究其配合力和杂种优势表现,对甘蓝杂交育种和创制高产结球甘蓝杂交种具有重要意义。本研究通过6×7不完全双列杂交设计,对结球甘蓝产量性状的配合力效应和F₁代杂种优势表现进行了分析,并基于SSR标记对13个亲本进行了聚类分析和遗传距离计算。结果表明,亲本880014、739和12119的产量性状一般配合力效应好,可作为优良的亲本材料。产量性状特殊配合力效应值高的组合为15109×01-20、12119×01-20、1602×13127和15109×739;产量性状杂种优势好的组合是1344×99011、1344×739、15109×739和12119×01-20。综上,15109×739和12119×01-20是具有增产潜力的优良组合。在中等遗传距离条件下,杂交组合产量性状特殊配合力好,杂种优势强。     

陆地棉配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离的相关性分析

 用10个陆地棉亲本进行不完全双列杂交,共配置了45个组合,计算亲本的一般配合力（GCA）、特殊配合力(SCA)、杂种优势,并结合SSR标记研究了陆地棉亲本配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离之间的相关关系。配合力分析发现,10个亲本的一般配合力和特殊配合力存在显著或极显著差异。分析亲本配合力、杂种优势和遗传距离的相关性发现,子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的一般配合力和杂种优势呈显著或极显著相关,纤维长度、比强度、麦克隆值、株高、果枝数、单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的特殊配合力和杂种优势均呈极显著正相关,而与遗传距离相关均不显著。单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的杂种优势与遗传距离均为正向显著或极显著相关。在育种实践中这些显著或极显著相关的性状可能具有较高的改良潜力。     

Genetic analysis of rapeseed self-incompatibility lines reveals significant heterosis of different patterns for yield and oil content traits

Self‐incompatibility is one of the most effective approaches to utilizing heterosis in oilseed rape around the world. To evaluate the heterosis of double low self‐incompatibility, the possibility of combining seed yield and oil content, and the genetic effects of parents on their hybrid progenies, a 2‐year field trial using a 3 × 22 NC II mating design was conducted during the 1999‐2001 growing seasons in Wuhan, China. Significant differences in seed yield per plant and seed oil content were observed among the F1 hybrids and between F1 progenies and their parents. However, the heterosis for seed yield per plant was much greater than that for seed oil content. Mid‐parent heterosis and high‐parent heterosis of seed yield per plant ranged from 5.50 to 64.11% and from –2.81 to 46.02%, while those of seed oil content ranged from –1.55 to 7.44% and –3.61 to 6.55%, respectively. Non‐additive genetic effects were a major mechanism that accounted for the yield heterosis in addition to additive effects. In contrast, seed oil content heterosis was mainly dependent on an additive genetic effect. General combining ability (GCA) determined the stability of hybrid cultivars. In hybrid breeding, parental materials might be selected by the sum of GCAs and variances of special combining abilities (SCAs) of female and male parents for traits affected by both additive and non‐additive effects, and by the sum of GCAs of two parents for traits controlled mainly by additive effects. Primary branches and their siliques were the most important yield traits.     

Relationship between hybrid performance and AFLP based genetic distance in highland maize inbred lines

The objectives of this study were to determine the crossing performance of highland maize inbred lines for grain yield, days to silk and plant height; estimate genetic distance (GD) among the inbred lines and in association with tester parents, and to investigate the relationship of GD with hybrid performance and midparent heterosis (MPH). A total of 26 inbred lines were crossed with six (population and line) testers in a factorial-mating scheme. The F_1’s and the parents were evaluated at five locations in Ethiopia. Nine amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer pairs were used to genotype all the parents. The F_1’s were found to vary widely for grain yield and other traits measured. Yield superiority of more than 30% over the best hybrid check was obtained for some testcross hybrids. Midparent heterosis on average was moderate for grain yield and, plant height. And for days to silking, MPH values were mostly negative. Mean GD values determined from the inbred lines by population tester (0.680) and line tester (0.661) combinations were not significantly different. Cluster analysis separated the tester parents from the corresponding inbred lines. AFLP grouping of the inbred lines was in agreement with their pedigree records. Genetic distances derived from the inbred lines × all testers and from the population testers’ sub-group were not positively correlated with hybrid performance and MPH for most traits. In contrast, correlations of GDs involving the line testers’ sub-group with F_1’s and MPH were significantly positive but with low magnitude to be of predictive value.