Character Association and Path Analysis in Water Stress Tolerant Accessions of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the correlation and path analysis for eleven characters of maize. Material was evaluated under well watered and moisture deficit conditions. The hybrids exhibited significant differences in grain yield and other traits under both moisture deficit and well-watered conditions. In both the conditions, grain yield showed significant and positive correlation with cob weight. In case of moisture deficit condition, grain yield was negatively correlated with days to maturity which indicates that early maturing hybrids are advantageous. Number of cobs/plant exhibited negative relationship with cob weight in moisture deficit and well watered condition. Path coefficient analysis revealed that cob weight and cob length had high positive indirect effect with grain yield in both conditions. Direct negative effects on grain yield were attributed due to days to 50% silking, cob girth and shank weight which indicates that selections for longer interval of anthesis and silking result in less grain yield. Drought stress alone can account for a significant percentage of average yield losses. Yet, despite variable environments, commercially available new maize hybrids continue to be produced each year with ever-increasing harvestable yield.