Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Late Maturing Pro-vitamin A Synthetic Maize (Zea mays L.) Breeding Lines

Abstract

This study was conducted in a rainforest ecology of Southwestern Nigeria during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons under rainfed conditions to estimate character association and path coefficient of grain yield (t ha-1) and its component characters, to identify characters whose selection could be used in improving maize grain yield (t ha-1). Fourteen late-maturing pro-vitamin A maize (PVAM) synthetics were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The following agronomic characters were recorded: plant stands per plot, days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant height (cm), ear height (cm), number of ears harvested, field weight (kg), and grain yield (t ha-1). In both 2016 and 2017, plant stands per plot, the number of ears harvested and field weight (kg) correlated positively and significantly with grain yield (t ha-1) at the phenotypic and genotypic levels. Also, in both years, positive and significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for plant stands per plot with number of ears harvested and field weight (kg), days to 50% tasselling with days to 50% silking, plant height (cm) with ear height (cm) and number of ears harvested with field weight (kg). Path analysis for both years at the phenotypic and genotypic levels identified field weight (kg) and the number of ears harvested to have a positive direct effect on grain yield (t ha-1), an indication that optimum plant population per plot is paramount to increasing grain yield (t ha-1). Hence, the number of ears harvested and field weight (kg) are characters that could be considered in the improvement of maize grain yield (t ha-1).

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

“…From this study, grain yield showed positive and significant correlation with number of plants per plot, number of plants harvested, number of ears harvested and field weight at both phenotypic and genotypic levels, indicating that selection for these characters may be important in improving grain yield. This is similar to the findings of Olawamide and Fayeun [14]. Significant positive correlation was observed between days to 50% anthesis and days to 50% silking, as well as between ear height with plant height [15,16,17].…”

“…Significant positive correlation was observed between days to 50% anthesis and days to 50% silking, as well as between ear height with plant height [15,16,17]. Similarly, plant height correlated significantly and positively with days to 50% silking and days to 50% anthesis [16], number of ears harvested with number of plants per plot, field weight with number of plants per plot, and number of plants harvested with number of ears harvested [14]. This suggests that improvement of one character will automatically lead to improvement of the other simultaneously.…”

Yield performance and agronomic characteristics of several candidate hybrid maize varieties on uncultivated land

“…Selection of these three characters will most likely result in an increase in the yield capability of the maize population [1] and these characters can be considered for indirect selection to increase grain yield. [15]. The significant positive correlation between the two characters indicates that the characters can be improved simultaneously in the selection program due to the strong relationship between the two characters [15].…”

Evaluation of performance and genetic parameters in quality protein maize genotypes

“…The significant positive correlation between the characters implies that these characters can be simultaneously improved by selection in a breeding program due to the strong association between them (Olawamide et al, 2020). Hence, the characters: cob weight, ear diameter, ear length, no.…”