Genetic Correlation among Various Quantitative Characters in Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines

摘要

Thirty maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications to assess the genetic correlation among 13 quantitative traits. A positive correlation with grain yield/plant was recorded for plant height (r = 0.41), ear length (r = 0.54), ear diameter (r = 0.74), number of grains/row (r = 0.47), number of grains/ear (r = 0.45) and 1000-grain weight (r = 0.41). Days to 50% tasselling and days to 50% silking were negatively correlated with yield/plant while days to 50% maturity, ear height, number of ears/plant and number of kernel rows/ear were positively but insignificantly correlated with yield/plant. Ear diameter was the character that most contributed to high yield/plant (r = 0.74) followed by earlength (r = 0.54). A strong positive correlation was observed for grain yield/plant with plant height (r = 0.41), ear length (r = 0.54), ear diameter (r = 0.74), number of grains/row (r = 0.47), and number of grains/ear (r = 0.45) indicating that selection for these characters could help improve grain yield in maize inbred lines.