The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between heterosis and genetic divergence for phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in tropical maize. It was used two groups of genitors, each consisting of seven lines, contrasting with each other in the nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency. It was obtained 41 hybrid combinations between these groups, which were evaluated in low phosphorus. Randomized complete block design with two replications was used. For obtaining the components of variance and the breeding values were used REML/BLUP method. In the genotyping of the parental lines were used 80 microsatellite markers. Through the correlation between genetic distance obtained by the markers and specific combining ability it was not possible to determine with accuracy by molecular markers, the crosses that produced hybrids with the highest heterosis for PUE. Thus, is possible to conclude that there is no relationship between genetic divergence and heterosis for phosphorus use efficiency and its components in tropical maize.
dissimilarity; abiotic stress; molecular markers; combining ability
