Correlation and Path Analysis in Elite Maize (Zea mays L.) Lines

Aim: To study the association between characters through correlation and path analysis for 30 elite maize lines

Study Design: Randomized Block Design with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Seed Research and Technology Centre Rabi 2020-21.

Methodology: Character association studies will help to assess the relationship between the yield and its contributing traits for enhancing efficiency selection. Because of this, the present research work was carried out to assess the correlation coefficient and path analysis among thirty maize inbred lines for eighteen yield, yield contributing characters and seedling vigour traits in maize (Zea mays L.).

Results: Correlation studies revealed that plant height (0.3566**), ear height (0.2135**), ear length (0.3505**), ear diameter (0.4973**), number of kernel rows (0.3471**), 100-seed weight (0.5359**), cob yield per plant (0.9883**) and seed vigour index-2 (0.3412**) were significant and positively correlated with the grain yield per plant. Path analysis showed that cob yield per plant had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield per plant followed by shelling percentage (0.0094), seed vigour index -1 (0.0131), seed vigour index-2 (0.0125), 100 seed weight (0.0122), days to tasseling (0.0108), germination first count (0.0094), speed of germination (0.0060), number of kernels per row (0.0058), ear diameter (0.0057) suggesting that grain yield could be indirectly enhanced by the selection of these characters.