Combining ability,correlation and path analysis on characteristics of 16 silage maize inbred lines

Twelve silage maize inbred lines,which were cultivated by the Corps Research Institute at Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and 4 other main inbred lines were selected for the study.The 16 inbred lines were designed by P1xP2 uncompleted diallel crossing of NCII method to evaluate their combining ability and correlation,as well as,for path analysis.The results showed that the inbred lines of MQ12-243 had higher general combining ability with a crossed high biological yield of the hybrids of MQ12-243 18599.The hN2 for biological yield was lower and that for plant height higher.Correlation and Path analysis,plant height,ear height and 100-kernel weight had a significant positive correlation with the biological yield.The direct effect of 100-kernel weight on biological yield was most significant.The indirect effect of plant height and ear height on biological yield was equally significant.Therefore,it was concluded that the inbred lines should be selected with high plant height,ear height and kernel weight.