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Abstract

Zea mays L. serves as a staple food in numerous countries globally, yet its productivity faces substantial challenges from drought, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to understand the genetic basis of drought tolerance in maize to develop resilient hybrids capable of thriving in erratic rainfall conditions. Through a line × tester breeding design involving fifteen inbred lines, with ten as female and five as male parents, fifty crosses were generated and evaluated under normal and drought stress conditions. Analysis of variance revealed significant variability among the lines and their crosses, while combining ability analysis identified promising general combiners like L2, L3, and L7 under normal and drought stress. Specific crosses, such as L9×T5 and L6×T2 under non-stressed conditions and L1×T5 and L3×T4 under drought conditions, exhibited high hybrid vigor. These findings underscore significant genetic variation among the investigated entries, providing valuable insights for selecting genotypes suitable for drought-prone environments and facilitating the development of drought-tolerant maize cultivars.

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