ANALYSIS OF CORRELATION AND AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN SINGLE CROSS HYBRIDS OF MAIZE

The objective of the present study was to estimate the correlation coefficients and assess agro-morphological variability of single cross hybrids of maize. This study was conducted at research field of National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during the winter season from October 6, 2015 to March 5, 2016. Fourteen single cross maize hybrids were evaluated to study correlation and agro-morphological traits. Single cross hybrid namely RML-98 / RL-105 (6229 kg ha-1) significantly produced the highest yield, followed by RM1-4 / NML-2 (6073 kg ha-1), RML-95 / RL-105 (5904 kg ha-1) and RML-5/RL-105 (5528 kg ha-1). Cob length was strongly correlated with cob diameter (0.885), number of kernels per row (0.812), number of kernel rows per cob (0.951), test weight (0.870) and grain yield (0.916). Similarly, cob diameter was strongly correlated with number of kernels per row (0.870), number of kernel rows per cob (0.934), test weight (0.922) and grain yield (0.946). The number of kernels per row was strongly correlated with number of kernel rows per cob (0.915), test weight (0.781) and grain yield (0.847). The number of kernel rows per cob was strongly correlated with test weight (0.902) and grain yield (0.942). Similarly, test weight was strongly correlated with grain yield (0.968). The grain yield of the evaluated hybrids was significantly positively correlated with yield attributing traits. There was considerable variability among the hybrids evaluated for growth, grain yield, and traits indicating the presence of variation. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that farmers should grow maize hybrids RML-98 / RL-105, RM1-4 /NML-2, RML-95 / RL-105 and RML-5/RL-105 to achieve higher maize production