Character Association and Path Analysis for Morphoeconomic Trats in Quality Protein Maize Inbreds

Character association and component analysis at genotypic level were studied in 49 inbreds developed from different maize populations. Days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking and days to 75% dry husk had shownvery high and significant positive correlation among themselves but these maturity traits seem to have no association with seed yield or even any other yield contributing traits. In general, plant height, cob length, number of grains/row and cob diameter had high and significant positive association with seed yield; but Plant height emerged as an independent direct yield contributing trait towards seed yield/plant. Important yield contributing traits e.g., cob height, cob length, cob diameter and number of grains/row had high significant positive correlation with plant height as well as each was shown have high indirect effect on seed yield via plant height.