Combining ability and cluster analysis on different types of cold-resistant maize germplasm.

Eight different cold-resistant inbred lines that were chosen to analyze the combining ability of main agronomy characters on inbred lines, according to Griffing Ⅱdesign. The results showed that GCA and SCA variance of plant height, ear height, leaf numbers, ear length, kernels per row, yield per plant, 2 kernels width and volume weight were extremely significant. The combinations of HR6×2001-F32, FR1454×2001-F32, Mo17×FR1454 and HR6× HR295 had high yield; Cluster analysis according to the yield of SCA indicated cold- resistant inbred lines belonged to different germplasm groups, so the cold- resistant maize germplasm could be improved through methods of effective improvement.