Correlation and path coefficient analysis in five inbred line of maize (Zea mays L.) and their F 1 and F 2 hybrids under different conditions using line × tester analysis

Abstract

This investigation was conducted on maize (Zea mays L.) at two environmentally
 different locations in Sulaimani, viz. Kanipanka and Qlyasan. The objective was to
 investigate the correlation between kernel yield and other agronomic characters and their
 direct and indirect effects on yield through path coefficient analysis. For the first
 generation at Kanipanka, correlation studies revealed significant positive relationship of
 kernel yield with number of rows/ear, while at Qlyasan, kernel yield had significant
 positive correlation with plant height number of kernels/row and kernel weight/row. For
 the second generation kernel yield/plant had highly significant correlation with most of
 the studied characters at both locations. For the first generation, the path analysis revealed
 that, number of ear/plant and number of kernel/row recorded the maximum positive direct
 effect in kernel yield/plant at Kanipanka and Qlyasan, while the maximum negative direct
 effect in kernel yield exhibited by plant height and number of ear/plant at Kanipanka and
 Qlyasan. The maximum positive indirect effect on kernel yield/plant recorded by number
 of ear/plant via plant height and the maximum negative indirect effect recorded by plant
 height via number of ear/plant at Kanipanka location, while at Qlyasan location number
 of kernel/row gave the maximum positive indirect effect via kernel weight/row and the
 maximum negative indirect effect recorded by number of ear/plant via kernel weight/row.
 For the second generation, the maximum positive direct effect in kernel yield recorded
 by number of ear/plant and plant height at Kanipanka and Qlyasan locations, while the
 maximum negative direct effect recorded by 300-kernel weight at both locations. The
 maximum positive indirect effect showed by number of ear/plant via number of rows/ear
 at Kanipanka location. At Qlyasan, the maximum positive indirect recorded by plant
 height via kernel weight/ear. The maximum negative indirect effect recorded by 300-
 kernel weight via plant height at both locations. These results detected that number of
 ear/plant, number of kernels/row and plant height may be used as reliable criteria for
 improving kernel yield in maize.