Estimatives of the general combining ability (CGA) and specific combining ability (SCA) among eleven commercial maize hybrids were obtained in this study. Single-cross hybrids AS 1550, DK B214, DK B215, DK B330, Dow 2B150, Dow 8460, P 30F33, P 30F53, P 30P70, Penta and Premium Flex were intercrossed in a circulant diallel scheme with p=11 (eleven parents) and s=8 (crossed 8 to 8) to obtain 44 double hybrids. These genotypes were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Two experiments were carried out in Center-South Paraná State, in Guarapuava and Goioxim, Brazil. The yield, plant height and ear height were obtained and submitted to diallel analysis. There were significant differences between localities and between diallel hybrids for both traits. Significant differences were observed for localities x diallel hybrids interaction for grain yield. Significant differences were detected for GCA in all characteristics and for SCA only in yield. Parents Penta, P 30F53 and Dow 8460 were outstanding for CGA values in yield, and parent AS 1550 in plant height and ear height. The best hybrid combination was Penta x P 30F53, since it showed the highest yield, high SCA value and both parents presented the highest GCA estimative. The hybrid P 30F53 was parent of three among four of the most productive double hybrids. It is possible to obtain good populations from the commercial cultivars that were outstanding because of GCA and SCA estimatives in hybrid combinations.
plant breeding; Zea mays L.; diallel analysis; grain yield
