The aim of the study was to assess inbreeding depression and determine genetic components in landrace populations of popcorn. Six Brazilian popcorn landraces: Amarelo, Beija-Flor, Branco, Rosa-claro, Roxo and Viçosa, were subjected to self-pollination. Experiments with S0 populations and their selfing populations (S1) were conducted in a randomized complete block design. The estimates of inbreeding depression varied from 1.2% (popping expansion) to 79% (grain yield). The gene action was predominantly additive for plant height, ear height and hundred-grain-weight. The dominance genetic effects were important for index of prolificacy and grain yield. The genetic effect of popping expansion was bidirectional with null dominance and a predominance of additive gene effects. Based on these results, it was possible to identify popcorn populations suitable to extract inbred lines, develop hybrids and use in population improvement. The present study also confirmed that popping expansion is a trait that can be improved efficiently by recurrent selection programs of popcorn.