Genetic Variability and Path Analysis Studies in Hybrid Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to access correlation coefficient, path analysis and genetic variability among twenty one locally developed maize hybrids for ten characters. Positive and significant genotypic, phenotypic correlation coefficient were recorded for yield with anthesis silking interval (r g = 1.00**, r p = 0.96**), cob diameter (r g = 0.99** and r p = 0.95**) and ear height (r g = 0.98** and r p = 0.94**). But days to 50% tasseling had moderate but significant positive correlation at both phenotypic and genotypic level. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was obtained from thousand seed weight, days to 50% silking, cob diameter and anthesis silking interval. The highest phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed in thousand seed weight followed by days to 50% silking and cob diameter. The highest heritability (Hb) was observed for cob diameter (95.25) followed by days to 50% silking (94.15), days to maturity (93.85) and ear height (93.06). The characters with high GCV and higher values of heritability indicated high potential for selection. Anthesis silking interval (0.79) had the highest positive direct effect on yield followed by cob diameter (0.31), cob length (0.31) and plant height (0.04) indicating the effectiveness of direct selection. While some other characters such as days to 50% tasseling (-0.12), days to 50% silking (-1.78), ear height (-1.16), days to maturity (-0.64) exhibited indirect negative effect on yield indicating the effectiveness of indirect selection.