Correlation and Clustering for Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids

Present investigation was conducted in 144 maize hybrids of CIMMYT, Hyderabad along with 6 checks at ICRISAT, Hyderabad. The genotypes were evaluated for six quantitative traits: plant height, ear height, anthesis days, silking days, ear per plant and grain yield. Correlation among the traits came to a conclusion that anthesis days and silking are positively correlated with grain yield genotypically and plant height, ear height and ear per plant are positively correlated with grain yield phenotypically. Hence selection on five traits plays a vital role in increasing the grain yield. Clustering of genotypes based on the six traits divide the germplasm into two clusters. Each cluster has 85 and 65 genotypes respectively. Clustering the genotypes based the quantitative traits helps in understanding the relatedness between the genotypes.