Genetic analysis of sweet corn inbred lines and hybrids

Abstract

In the present investigation, analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among treatments in respect of all the characters studied indicating that the genotypes under study were genetically diverse. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability were high for grain yield per plant and ear height. High heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean. The genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficients for almost all the characters under study. Character association revealed significant positive association of Plant height (cm), rows per cob, cob diameter (cm), weight of cob with husk (g) weight of cob without husk(g), seed index (100 grain weight in g), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), seeding fresh weight (g) and seedling dry weight (g) both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Germination percent recorded positive but nonsignificant association with the grain yield at both the levels. Path analysis was carried out for grain yield in order to obtain a clear picture of inter relationship between yield and its component characters. Estimates of direct and indirect effects of component characters on grain yield at genotypic level revealed that ear girth contributed for maximum direct effect on 100 seed grain followed by cob diameter, weight of cob without husk, germination percentage, plant height, number of kernels per row, shoot length, seedling dry weight.