This study aimed to select desirable parents and single-cross hybrids with partial FAW resistance and suitable agronomic traits for effective (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda Lepidoptera: Noctuidae J.E. Smith) resistance pre-breeding and breeding programs in Zambia and related agro-ecologies. A line × tester mating design was used to generate 60 experimental hybrids. The hybrids and their parents were evaluated in the field in three FAW hotspot locations in Zambia. Both the general and specific combining ability effects were significant (p < 0.05) for the assessed traits. Non-additive genetic effects were more important for the inheritance of grain yield and FAW-inflicted leaf and cob damage, suggesting that heterosis breeding would be the best strategy for improving these traits in this population. The narrow sense heritability (h²) estimates for agronomic and FAW-related traits ranged from 0.14 to 0.47 and 0.37 to 0.49, respectively. The experimental hybrids CML346/EBL16469, ZM4236/CML545-B, CML346/CZL1310c, CML334/EBL173782, CML545-B/EBL169550 were among those selected with favourable specific combining ability estimates for grain yield, days-to-50 % anthesis, days-to-50 % silking, FAW leaf and cob damage resistance, respectively. The selected experimental hybrids are recommended for further evaluation and breeding in Zambia or similar agro-ecologies.

本研究旨在选择具有部分秋粘虫抗性和适宜农艺性状的理想亲本和单交杂种，以实现有效（FAW）（草地贪夜蛾）鳞翅目：夜蛾科 JE Smith）在赞比亚和相关农业生态学中的抗性预育和育种计划。使用线 × 测试仪交配设计生成 60 个实验杂种。杂种及其亲本在赞比亚的三个一汽热点地区进行了实地评估。对于评估的性状，一般和特定配合力效应均显着（p < 0.05）。非加性遗传效应对于粮食产量的遗传和秋粘虫造成的叶和穗轴损伤更为重要，表明杂种优势育种将是改善该种群这些性状的最佳策略。狭义遗传力（h ²) 农艺性状和秋粘虫相关性状的估计值分别为 0.14 至 0.47 和 0.37 至 0.49。实验杂种 CML346/EBL16469、ZM4236/CML545-B、CML346/CZL1310c、CML334/EBL173782、CML545-B/EBL169550 被选为具有良好的特定配合力估计的谷物产量、天数-距今分别达到 50 % 的脱丝、FAW 叶片和玉米棒损伤抗性。推荐选择的实验杂交种在赞比亚或类似的农业生态系统中进行进一步评估和育种。