The potential of 28 hybrids maize F2 population, obtained from a complete diallel among eight F2 populations, along with the eight parental F2 populations and two commercial controls were evaluated for agronomic traits, heterosis and its components. The experiments were developed in 2008/09, in Campinas, Mococa and Palmital, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with three replications. The agronomic traits male flowering, ear height and grain yield were evaluated. The grain yield was adjusted to 14% of moisture. Individual and grouped variance analyses were made considering the fixed model, with the means being compared by the Tukey test. The Gardner and Eberhart (1966) model was used in the diallel analysis. It was observed that the effect of heterosis and its components were highly significant. Considering the grain yield, populations F2AG8060, F2Fort, F2A2555 are promising in hybrid combinations, with high values of parental heterosis. The population F2DAS2B710 had the greatest parental heterosis effects. There was heterosis manifestation for grain yield, mainly for hybrid F2A2555 x F2Fort. It was confirmed the potential of F2 population hybrids as an alternative to the commercial maize production with medium to low technological input.
Zea mays; complete diallel; GARDNER and EBERHART; yield
