Genetic variability and association path analysis in maize (zea mays l.) genotypes

The present investigation was conducted with one ninty six maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes to evaluate their performance for genetic variability and association analysis. All the quantitative characters viz. days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to 80% maturity, final plant stand, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear girth, number of cobs per plot, number of kernel rows per cob, number of kernels per row, test weight, shelling percentage and grain yield showed wide variation among the genotypes studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded for grain yield, test weight, ear height, number of cobs per plot, number of kernels per row, number of kernel rows per cob, ear length, ear girth and plant height. Significant positive genotypic correlation with grain yield for traits days to 80% maturity, final plant stand, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear girth, number of cobs, number of kernels per row, test weight and shelling percentage. Maximum genotypic correlation coefficient with grain yield was recorded by number of cobs followed by final plant stand, test weight, ear girth, plant height, number of kernels per row, ear height, days to 80% maturity, ear length and shelling percentage. The genotypic path coefficient analysis of different yield contributing and associated traits on grain yield revealed that traits viz., number of cobs, recorded highest estimate of positive direct effect, while days to 50% tasseling recorded moderate positive direct effect, while ear girth recorded low value of positive direct effect on grain yield, while shelling percentage and plant height recorded negligible estimate of positive direct effect on grain yield.