Genetic variation and association study for grain yield in germplasm accessions of maize (zea mays L.)

The present investigation aimed to find out the association among yield and its components and to sort out the traits that are directly or indirectly contributing towards yield in landraces of maize genotypes. The eighty eight (88) maize germplasm collections were used in present study during Kharif -2012 and Kharif -2013 in RCBD design. Pooled data and standard statistics were employed (means, ranges, GM±SE, standard error and coefficient of variation etc.) for analysis of the seventeen quantitative traits to have a reflection of the level of genetic variability. A considerable amount of variability was found among germplasms for various important traits viz. plant height, ear weight, ear length, 1000 kernel weight similarly grain yield per plant etc. grain yield exhibited positive and highly significant correlation with ear height, days to female flower initiation, days to 50% male flower initiation, days to 50% female flower initiation, days to maturity, 1000 grain weight, ear weight at genotypic and phenotypic level. Maximum phenotypic correlation coefficient was recorded by cob diameter (0.955) followed by days to female flower initiation (0.758), plant height (0.718*) and days to male flower initiation (0.679).Path analysis indicated that the character ear height (0.410) recorded highest of the direct effect followed by biological yield per plant (0.408), harvest index (0.328), days to female flower initiation (0.32), prop root (0.149) and 1000 kernel weight (0.136), so such traits may be rewarding and they should be given importance while practicing selection, aimed at improving grain yield per plant in maize. The genotypes JLM 22 was to be found best for high yield by considering all yield contributing traits followed by JLM 51, HKI 1344, CML 429, CML 470, JLM 30 JLM 2 and these can be utilized in further breeding programmes for producing single cross hybrids in Maize.