Correlation analysis for morpho-physiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.)

The present study was conducted in the glasshouse of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during crop growing season 2011. It was concluded that higher heritability was recorded for all traits while higher genetic advance was recorded for fresh root-to-shoot weight ratio (49.07%), dry root weight (62.86%, dry shoot weight (47.75%), total dry weight (51.19%), dry root-to-shoot weight ratio (58.66%), chlorophyll contents (193.59%), photosynthetic rate (138.40%), sub-stomata CO₂ concentration (145.28%), water use efficiency (181.28%), transpiration rate (96.29%) and stomata conductance (75.98%). It was found that significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were shown by fresh root length, fresh shoot length, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight, total fresh weight, dry root weight, dry shoot weight, total dry weight, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll contents, leaf temperature and water use efficiency. Higher heritability, genetic advance and significant correlation indicated that selection on basis of these morpho-physiological traits may be helpful to improve maize grain yield.