Hybrid development from fixed inbred lines is one of the strategies for the improvement of maize production. Forty-two Quality Protein Maize (QPM) crosses along with three popular standard hybrids checks were evaluated in two replications using alpha lattice during the 2017 cropping season at three locations. The study aimed to evaluate and select the best new QPM hybrids for grain yield, and other traits. Significant difference among crosses was observed for 19 traits at Ambo, 14 traits at Arsi-Negele, and 19 traits at Kulumsa. Out of 28 traits studied, six traits did not show genotype by location interaction but they showed a significant genotypic effect. Based on the mean performance in the combined analysis, from 42 new QPM crosse, six of them (L8xT2, L7xT1, L8xT1, L19xT1, L6xT2, and L18xT1) were scored higher grain yield compared with the mean of the three standard checks and best conventional maize (CM) check (AMH853). L8xT2, L7xT1, L8xT1 crosses showed a higher grain yield advantage over the best check (AMH853) by 20.87, 14.13, and 13.63%, respectively. In general, the study highlighted the existence of a significant difference between new crosses and the standard checks varieties enabled to identify of promising crosses that could be forwarded for further use in maize breeding programs in future work.

Keywords: Maize, Quality protein, cross, Conventional maize,