One hundred and sixty-nine interpopulational half sib progenies were obtained from maize populations derived from the commercial single-cross hybrids AG9012 (1) and C333 (2) to investigate the efficiency of reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS). Fifteen progenies with highest hulled ear yield were obtained. Two recombination trials were sown with remnant S 1 seeds, and the improved CI 1 and CI 2 populations were simultaneously obtained with their hybrid combination. Yield trials were set up in three sites to assess the efficiency of the RRS. The F 1 from single-cross hybrid AG9012 and C333, the doublecross (F 1(1) x F 1( 2) ) hybrids, the C0 1 and C0 2 populations, the interpopulational hybrid (C0 1 x C0 2 ), the CI 1 and CI 2 improved populations, and their hybrid (CI 1 x CI 2 ) were compared. A 5.7% progress was obtained in one cycle of RRS for ear yield, mainly attributed to increased heterosis. The yield of the improved hybrid was superior to the F 1 from single-cross hybrids AG9012 and C333, demonstrating the potential of the referred hybrid combination.