Abstract: Using 24 pedigree selected lines from popcorn × normal corn crosses and 7 elite popcorn inbreds, 168 testcrosses were made and combining ability of 3 popping characteristics and 12 main agronomic characters were analyzed. The results showed that for most important characters, the GCAs of BP02,BP03,BP04,BP12 and BP14 were significantly positive, which should be tested extensively with popcorn lines. The SCA values of ear kernel weight and expansion fold between BP20,BP21 and N03, BP02 and F2, BP11 and N16 were all significantly positive and these selected lines could be used to make elite crosses with those lines in the same groups as N03, F_2, N16 respectively. The result of cluster analysis of 24 selected lines was not in agreement with their parental lines and selection pedigrees. Comparing with Yubao 2, all the 168 testcrosses had no advantage and could not be used as normal popcorn hybrids. The problems of normal pedigree selection method for popcorn normal corn crosses and the utilization of these selected lines were also discussed in this paper.

Key words: Popcorn, Normal corn, Inbreds, Combining ability, Expansion characteristics, Cluster analysis

CLC Number: 

• S513