Inter-relationships among different morphological traits over different environments in fodder maize (Zea mays L.).

Twenty diverse populations of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) were planted in randomized complete block design with two replications each on two locations, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur at two different dates of sowing i. e. 8.7.09 and 8.8.09 comprising four different environments (E1- Gurdaspur dated 8.7.09, E2- Ludhiana dated 8.7.09, E3- Gurdaspur dated 8.8.09 and E4- Ludhiana dated 8.809) to study inter-relationships of green fodder yield with plant height, leaves/plant, plant weight, leaf-stem ratio, days to pollen shed and days to silking. At the phenotypic level, fodder yield was positively and significantly correlated (P≤0.01) with all the traits except leaf-stem ratio. Genotypic correlations, in general, had higher magnitude than the corresponding phenotypic correlations. Path coefficients analysis revealed that days to pollen shed had not only high direct effect on fodder yield but also had high indirect effects through days to silking, plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant weight. Hence selection on the basis of these traits can be done to improve fodder yield in maize.