Fida Hussain^1,*, Farooq Khan², Javed Ahmad¹, Heqiang Huo³, Tao Jiang³, Iqrar Rana⁴, Sajida Habib⁵, Muhammad Umer Farooq^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3231-3249, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069654 - 29 October 2025

Abstract The analysis of combining ability and heterosis is very important in enhancing the yield and oil quality of sunflowers under adverse conditions, and it reveals the potential of the parents and the mechanism of gene action. In this study, twenty-one hybrids were developed by crossing seven cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines with three restorer lines and evaluated for agronomic and quality traits. Highly significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were observed, confirming the role of both additive and non-additive gene actions. Among the tested crosses, A-42 × R-86, A-92 ×… More >

Mohamed M. Kamara^1,*, Nora M. Al Aboud², Hameed Alsamadany³, Abeer M. Kutby⁴, Imen Ben Abdelmalek⁵, Diaa Abd El-Moneim⁶, Motrih Al-Mutiry⁷

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 101-122, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.058033 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is a crucial nutrient vital for the growth and productivity of maize. However, excessive nitrogen application can result in numerous environmental and ecological problems, such as water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, breeding maize hybrids resilient to low nitrogen conditions is crucial for sustainable agriculture, especially under low nitrogen conditions. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the combining ability and heterosis of maize lines, recognize promising hybrids, and study gene action controlling key traits under low and recommended N stress conditions. The half-diallel mating design hybridized seven maize inbreds, resulting… More >

Mohamed M. Kamara¹, Fatmah A. Safhi², Nora M. Al Aboud³, Maha Aljabri³, Samah A. Alharbi³, Hesham S. Ghazzawy^4,5, Mohammed O. Alshaharni⁶, Eman Fayad⁷, Wessam F. Felemban^8,9, Diaa Abd El-Moneim¹⁰, Abdallah A. Hassanin¹¹, Imen Ben Abdelmalek^12,*, Abdelraouf M. Ali¹³, Elsayed Mansour^14,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3465-3485, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058628 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Developing high-yield maize hybrids is critical for sustaining maize production, especially in the face of rapid climate changes and the growing global population. Exploring the genetic diversity and combining ability in parental inbreds is needed for developing such high-yielding hybrids. Consequently, this study aimed at evaluating parental genetic diversity employing simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, estimating effects of general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities for grain yield and yield contributing characters, identifying high yielding hybrids, and evaluating the association of SCA effects and performance of hybrids with genetic distance. Half-diallel mating scheme was utilized… More >

Renjie Zhao¹, Yueqiao Li², Chen Xu², Zhian Zhang^1,*, Ziyang Zhou^2,*, Yihan Zhou³, Zexin Qi¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.8, pp. 1963-1980, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.053072 - 30 August 2024

Abstract Despite hybrid dominance contributing to the genetic improvement of crops, little is known about heterosis and inheritance patterns of endogenous substances in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) root bleeding sap. In this study, six sterile and six restorer lines of sorghum and 36 hybrid sorghum combinations formulated as incomplete double-row crosses were selected as test materials, and heterosis, combining ability, heritability, and their interrelationships of root bleeding sap endogenous substances in different hybrid sorghum combinations and their parents were investigated. The results showed that the root bleeding sap of the F1 generation of hybrid sorghum had… More >

Mohammed I. Al-Daej¹, Mohamed M. El-Malky², Muhammad N. Sattar³, Adel A. Rezk^1,4, Muhammad N. Naqqash⁵, Jameel M. Al-Khayri^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.91, No.9, pp. 1905-1922, 2022, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2022.020629 - 13 May 2022

Abstract Rice stem borer (Chilo agamemnon Bles.) is a primary insect pest of rice and is a major limiting factor to rice production. Breeding for insect-resistant crop varieties has been an economic way of integrated pest management (IPM) as it offers a viable and ecologically acceptable approach. This study was aimed to evaluate rice genotypes for their resistance against rice stem borer. Seven parental genotypes with twenty one F1 crosses were evaluated for genotypic variation in field experiments. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for the studied traits in almost all crosses and parents. In addition, the… More >

Borghi ML¹, MA Ibañez¹, NC Bonamico¹, MV Kandus², D Almorza Gomar³, EA Guillin², JC Salerno², MA Di Renzo¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.81, pp. 123-131, 2012, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2012.81.123

Abstract Mal de Río Cuarto (MRC) disease is a significant threat to corn production in Argentina. Sixty six hybrid combinations derived from the cross of twelve flint maize (Zea mays L) inbred lines were evaluated using a completely randomized block design with two replications. MRC disease severity grade (SG) and grain yield (GY) were the analyzed traits. Our objectives were to estimate the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities for these traits among twelve corn inbred lines, and to identify potential heterotic relationships among them. Diallel crosses were performed and these results were compared using Griffing’s… More >

Cervantes Ortiz F¹, G García De los Santos², A Carballo Carballo², D Bergvinson³, JL Crossa³, M Mendoza Elos¹, E Andrio Enríquez¹, JG Rivera Reyes¹, E Moreno Martínez⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.80, pp. 19-26, 2011, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2011.80.019

Abstract We determined the genetic components, and the correlation between the F₁ and the F₂ generations, for traits like seed and seedling vigor using a diallel crossing design. The study involved six tropical maize inbred lines from the CIMMYT. Crosses were formed in CIMMYT’s Maize Research Station in Tlaltizapan, Morelos during the summer of 2004. In order to produce F₂ seeds, F₁ crosses were grown at Tepalcingo, Mor. and Iguala, Guerrero. This was accomplished by controlling pollinations (half sibs). Seeds from the F₁ and the F₂ crosses were evaluated at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. F₁ and F₂ seeds… More >

De la Cruz-Lázaro E¹, G Castañón-Najera², NP Brito-Manzano¹, A Gómez-Vázquez¹, V Robledo-Torres³, AJ Lozano del Río³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 11-17, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.011

Abstract Estimation of genetic parameters using diallel crosses experiments aids to objective decision making in plant breeding programs. The objectives of this study were to estimate heterosis, the general combining ability (GCA) of eight tropical maize populations, and the specific combining ability (SCA) of 28 crosses. The populations evaluated were: population 21, 22, 23, 25, 32, 43, 49 and the commercial variety VS 536. The Griffing method 2 design was utilized to estimate GCA and SCA effects, on a complete randomized block design with two replications, at two planting dates. The diallel analysis showed significant differences… More >