Heterosis in Swazi-bred Maize Hybrids: The 1993 and 1994 Test Hybrids

Maize is the staple food crop of Swaziland and most farmers use hybrid cultivars. A small scale maize breeding project was started in 1986 to develop local cultivars. Inbred lines have been developed, mostly from local and international maize and what improvement center (CIMMYT) open pollinated cultivars. Single cross test hybrids made in 1993 among these inbred lines (mostly S and S lines) were yield tested in two replications with parental and commercial checks in the 1993/94 and 1994/95 trial also included single cross test hybrids made in 1994. Trial mean grain yield was 5.5 Mg/ha in 1993/94 and 4.8 Mg/ha in 1994/95. The top yielder was a test hybrid in both growing seasons, TH9308 in 1993/94 and TH9401 in 1994/95. TH9308 was the second highest yielder in 1994; and one other test hybrid, TH9308 and TH9401 both resulted from CIMMYT X Local single crosses. Thus, this breeding project has identified high yielding locally developed hybrids that appear to be stable for Luyento. However, if Swaziland was sustained development of local cultivars it will need to start a full scale national maize breeding program. UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol 3 (1) 1999: pp 38-4