Determination of selection criterions for sweet corn using path coefficient analyses

Path analysis appears to be the best method in biological and agronomic studies to determine the major selection criteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate path coefficients both direct and indirect, for sweet corn. The research was carried out during 2003 and 2004 in Sanliurfa, Southeastern Turkey. Ten sweet corn genotypes were used as the crop materials. Fresh ear yield was statistically significant and positively correlated with single ear weight, ear length and ear diameter. Ear length gave a highest direct positive effect on fresh ear yield, followed by single ear weight. Plant height and stem diameter had negative direct effect on fresh ear yield. Direct effects of ear length, single ear weight, plant height and stem diameter on fresh ear yield were 42.3%, 31.3%, 31.0% and 17.7%, respectively. Path analyses revealed that the ear length and single ear weight as the primary; ear diameter, kernel number of ear and leaf number as the secondary characteristics that can be taken into consideration as the important yield components and selection criteria for sweet corn