Association Studies for Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Maize

Author: Vinay Rojaria, Ajay Kumar, Subhash Bijarnia, Pulak Debbarma and Ashutosh Kumar

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Abstract

Better grain yield is ultimate objective of any crop improvement scheme. However, yield being a complex trait under polygenic control, it become imperative to decipher the contribution of component traits towards yield and then devising a selection strategy. To understand association of component traits with yield, eight inbreds and their twenty-eight hybrids were evaluated for correlation and path coefficient analysis. Eight inbreds were subjected to half diallel mating design. Crosses were made during Kharif-19 and hybrids were analysed during Rabi - 2019-20 at Maize farm at TCA Dholi in randomized block design with three replications. Twelve traits were selected for present study. The analysis of variance showed ample amount of genetic variability among genotypes for all the characters under study. Correlation coefficient studies indicated that eight traits viz., chlorophyll content (r = 0.5119), cob length (r = 0.6673), cob girth (r = 0.1904), number of kernel rows/ear (r = 0.5991), number of kernels/row (r = 0.7495) and 1000 grain weight (r = 0.4693) had positive significant association with grain yield. From path coefficient analysis studies, it became clear that traits viz., days to 50 % tasseling, ear height, number of kernels/row, days to 75 % brown husk, chlorophyll content had positive direct effect on grain yield. This study identifies chlorophyll content, number of kernel rows/ear and number of kernels/row as major yield contributing traits to improve yield effectively.

Keywords

Character association, Correlation, Path coefficient, Grain yield

Conclusion

Positive and significant association of grain yield with component traits makes selection for higher yield easy and reliable. Significant association of chlorophyll content, cob length, cob girth, no. of kernel rows per cob, no. of kernels per row and 1000 grain weight revealed importance of these traits in order to improve yield effectively. Results from path analysis indicated that traits such as no. of kernels per row, cob length, cob girth, 1000 grain weight had direct effect on grain yield indicating the usefulness of these traits for direct selection.

References

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How to cite this article

Vinay Rojaria, Ajay Kumar, Subhash Bijarnia, Pulak Debbarma and Ashutosh Kumar (2023). Association Studies for Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Maize. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 676-679.