This study was conducted to investigate the opportunity to utilize discriminant analysis in the selection of parent lines in hybrid maize breeding. For this purpose, top crosses were obtained by top-crossing 31 inbred maize lines with the line in 2003. | Research Article Turk J Agric For 36 (2012) 533-542 © TÜBİTAK doi: Use of discriminant analysis for selection of hybrid maize parent lines Ahmet ÖZ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı – TURKEY Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the opportunity to utilize discriminant analysis in the selection of parent lines in hybrid maize breeding. For this purpose, top crosses were obtained by top-crossing 31 inbred maize lines with the line in 2003. These hybrids were subjected to preyield trials in 2004. The same lines were subjected to observation tests in 2003 and 2004, and yield and yield components were determined. The obtained data were analyzed using the discriminant analysis method. The distances between the lines were determined according to D2 and canonical values. The TK-108, TK-110, TK-13, TK-347, TK-175, TK-157, and TK-120 lines were selected as parental lines after the evaluation of the results of the top cross. The TK-120, TK-145, TK-413, TK-284, TK-169, TK-68, and TK-304 lines were selected as parents in line with the evaluations made as a result of discriminant analysis. Key words: Combination ability, discriminant analysis, maize, top cross Introduction Identifying genetic differences between parent lines in order to get high heterosis in obtaining hybrid cultivars in open-pollinated plants like maize is very important. Because of this, breeders develop source populations from different heterotic groups and perform crossbreeding among these populations. Some researchers develop different models in order to obtain high heterosis (Radovic and Jelovac 1995; Sinobas and Monteagudo 1996; Gouesnard et al. 1996). Reid × Lancaster is a heterotic model in which commercial hybrids are mostly obtained (Soengas et al. 2003). After the inbred lines have been obtained, their combination ability is checked and hybrid combinations are .
