Genetic Variation,Correlation and Path Analysis on Major Agronomic Characters of Maize

Using 20 representative sweet-waxy maize varieties imported from Taiwan,with randomized block design,9 main agronomic characters such like plant height etc,were used for study variation coefficient,correlation analysis and path analysis.The results showed that 9 characters all had different variation,among them barren tip,ear height,yield per plot,and ear rows have bigger variation coefficient,1000-kernel weight and kernel rate have smaller variation coefficient.By correlation analysis indicated yield was highly significant positive correlation with ear length,row grains and kernel rate,and the yield had the greatest correlation coefficient with kernel rate,but negative correlation with plant height,ear height,and barren tip.By path analysis indicated the kernel rate had the biggest direct path coefficient with yield,ear length,ear rows,row grains and plant height had positive direct path coefficients with yield,but 1000-kernel weight,ear height and barren tip had negative direct path coefficients with yield.By trait selection,it is very important to select the largest variability of traits.By varieties selection,should pay attention to the varieties with higher yield,kernel rate,row grains,ear rows and ear length.