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.

The present investigation was carried out with 30 maize inbred lines at Seed Research Technology Centre, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the inbreds for all the traits studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) was slightly higher than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) indicating the role of experimental variance in the total variance. High PCV and GCV were observed for SVI-2 whereas cob yield per plant and grain yield per plant showed high PCV and moderate GCV. It indicated the presence of a high degree of variability. Ear height, 100- grain weight, seed vigour index – I and speed of germination had moderate PCV and GCV. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed in ear height, 100-seed weight, cob yield per plant, seed vigour index-1, seed vigour index-2, speed of germination and grain yield per plant indicating the preponderant role additive gene action in inheritance and simple selection would be effective for yield improvement. Based on GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance over mean seven traits (ear height, ear length, cob yield per plant, grain yield per plant, SVI-1, SVI-2 and speed of germination) are given importance during the selection of inbred lines. The current study reveals the existence of proper genetic variability among the characters which can be applied to a maize improvement programme.