Genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield component traits in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to explore the genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield component traits in maize. One hundred maize inbred lines obtained from Department of millets,TNAU were raised along with five checks in Augmented block design II and observations were recorded on twenty morphological traits. Analysis of variance showed significant genotypic variance for all the characters. High PCV, GCV heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean were recorded for anthesis silking interval, number of tassel branches, number of kernels per row, grain yield per plant, cob weight, ear height and number kernel rows per cob. This indicated the effectiveness of selection towards these traits. Critical analysis of results obtained from character association indicated that grain yield per plant had positive significant association with cob weight, cob girth, number of kernels per row plant height, cob length, ear height,100 kernel weight, tassel length and chlorophyll index. Thus selection for these traits could bring about an improvement in yield attributes of maize. Path analysis for the attributed traits revealed the direct influence of cob girth followed by number of kernels per row, shelling percentage, days to 50 percent silking and ear height on grain yield. Hence these traits could be used as an effective selection indicator to identify the elite genotypes from a population.

Keywords

• Maize
• variability
• heritability
• genetic advance
• correlation
• path analysis