Heritability, Character Relationship and Path Coefficient Analysis in Agronomic Traits of Baby Corn over Different Environments

Abstract

Seven hybrids of baby corn (Zea mays L.) along with two commercial hybrid baby corn varieties as check were evaluated at six locations in Bangladesh following randomized complete block design with two replications. Close resemblance between genotypic correlation coefficient (GCV) and phenotypic correlation coefficient (PCV) was observed for all traits indicating less interference of environmental effect and thus, the selection for these characters would be effective. Heritability estimates in general were high for all the characters studied except cob length without husk while high heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance as percent of mean was found for cob weight without husk per plant and cob yield per plant. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that for most of the characters, the difference between genotypic correlation coefficient and phenotypic correlation coefficient is low suggesting least environmental influence on these studied traits. Significant positive correlation existed between cob yield per plant with cob length without husk and cob diameter without husk. Path coefficient analysis showed that first cob harvest day, cob length without husk and cob weight with husk per plant exhibited positive direct effect with cob yield per plant. Thus, these traits could be emphasized during selection criteria for improvement of baby corn yield. Though number of cob per plant and cob diameter without husk showed negative direct effect on cob yield, indirect effect via upper ear height, lower ear height and interval between first and  last cob harvest contributed and they should also be given importance simultaneously during selection.