Development and selections of appropriate parents' are perquisites for hybrid variety development and need knowledge of heterotic grouping and combining ability. The research was investigated to identify good general combiner inbred lines and good specific combiner three-way crosses using randomized complete block design with three replications. Sixteen crosses (eight inbred lines crossed with two testers) and three standard checks were evaluated for yield and yield components. Analysis of variance disclosed significant differences among genotypes for most traits indicating existence of variability among genotypes. General combining ability (GCA) for grain yield demonstrated five inbred lines and T2 was good general combiner for grain yield. Specific combining ability (SCA) analysis revealed eight hybrids were good specific combiner for grain yield. Three hybrids ABOUT THE AUTHORS Melkamu Elmyhun is a breeder at Adet Agricultural Research Center, Amhara regional Agricultural Research Institute in Ethiopia. Melkamu has handled different research projects in field crops focusing on maize and contributed a lot for improvement of maize productivity in the region and in the country. He has participated actively in national research centers, NGOs and international research centers and has good collaboration. He has dedicated in resource management and doing research alone or in teamwork. Melkamu is highly devoted in creating genotypic variability which is the base for the development of betteryielding varieties.Chale Liyew and Abayneh Shita are researchers at Adet Agricultural Research Center, Amhara regional Agricultural Research Institute in Ethiopia. They have great skills in resource, data and trial management with great interest and participation in maize crossing.Mekuanint Andualem is a plant protection researcher at Adet Agricultural Research Center, Amhara regional Agricultural Research Institute in Ethiopia. Mekuanint has been involved in maize-breeding in early generation evaluation for disease resistance or tolerance.

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