Heritability, Genetic Advance, Correlation and Path-Coefficient Estimation in High Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.)

At G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttaranchal), 42 top crosses of 14 quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines (L₁, L₂, ………L₁₄) with 3 testers (T₁, T₂, T₃) were evaluated using a high-lysine standard check, Shakti-1 in a randomized complete block design during kharif, 2004. Data were recorded on 50% tasselling and silking, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, kernel rows per ear, 100-kernel weight and grain yield. Significant genotypic differences and wide range of variation in mean values were observed for all the characters studied. Highest heritability in broad sense was observed for grain yield followed by ear diameter, ear length and kernel rows per ear. Maximum amount of genetic advance was found for grain yield followed by plant and ear heights. All characters except days to 50% tasselling and silking showed significant positive correlations with grain yield. Path-coefficient analysis revealed that 100-kernel weight had highest direct effect towards grain yield followed by plant and ear heights.