Studies on Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Grain Yield and Its Contributing Characters in Maize (Zea mays L.)

The present investigation was undertaken at Agricultural Research Station, Tornala, Telangana, India during rabi, 2019-20 and kharif, 2020 to study the cause of association and direct & indirect effects for yield and its contributing traits in fifteen hybrids along with their eight parents and three checks of maize. The experiment was conducted in Randomised Block design with two replications. Correlation analysis revealed that, grain yield was found to be significant & positively correlated with these characters viz., ear height, ear length, number of kernels row-1, ear diameter, plant height, number of kernel rows, 100 kernel weight, shelling % and significant & negatively correlated with characters days to 50% tasseling and days to 50% silking. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the characters days to 50% tasseling exhibited the largest direct effect on grain yield followed by number of kernels per row, 100 kernel weight and ear diameter. The traits like no. of kernels/row, ear diameter and 100 kernel weight displayed positive significant correlation as well as positive direct effect on yield. Hence, due emphasis should be given to these traits in formulating selection criteria to bring high yield.