Trait association for improved grain yield of extra-early maturing maize hybrids evaluated in the forest and transitional zones of Ghana

Abstract

The present study used sequential path analysis and factor analysis to determine the interrelationship between grain yield and other agronomic traits of 100 extra-early maturing maize genotypes. The objective was to identify traits with the greatest influence on grain yield for use as selection criteria in future breeding programmes. The coefficient of correlations revealed that grain yield correlated positively with ear aspect, days to anthesis, days to silking, plant height, and number of ears harvested per plot and plant stand. Grain yield was however, negatively correlated to husk cover and ear number per plant. Path analysis identified plant height and number of ears harvested per plot to have a positive direct effect on grain yield while ear number per plant had a negative direct effect on grain yield. Also, plant stand, number of ears harvested per plot and ear aspect were identified to have the greatest influence on yield by factor analysis.