Association among Agro-morphological Traits by Correlations and Path in Selection of Maize Genotypes
Richardson Sales Rocha *
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Maxwel Rodrigues Nascimento
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
José Tiago Barroso Chagas
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Rafael Nunes de Almeida
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Paulo Ricardo dos Santos
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Camila Queiroz da Silva Sanfim de Sant’Anna
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Derivaldo Pureza da Cruz
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Kleyton Danilo da Silva Costa
Federal Institute of Alagoas - Campus Piranhas, Avenida Sergipe, s/n, Xingó, Piranhas, AL, CEP: 57460000. Brasil.
Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
Rogério Figueiredo Daher
State University of Nothern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Center of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences and Technology, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia –Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP: 28013-602. Brasil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In the State of Espírito Santo (Brazil), family farmers have grown a number of maize varieties for decades, consisting of open-pollinated populations with valuable importance for the livelihood of smallholder farmers. The study aimed to analyze the cause and effect of associations between agro-morphological traits for increasing yields in maize populations cultivated. A total of 16 maize accessions of in vivo conservation works in eight different locations were evaluated, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, totaling 48 experimental units. Genetic parameters, genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental correlation were estimated, and a path analysis was conducted. In general, accessions presented enough genetic variability, showing significant differences for all traits analyzed statistically (P≤0.05). The first cob insertion height with plant height and final plant stand variables presented heritability (h2) higher than 80%, suggesting that superior genotypes could be determined. Highest estimates of phenotypic correlations (rp) were found between the first cob insertion height with plant height and total number of cobs with number of cobs per plant (0.85). For estimates of genotypic correlations (rg), the highest were between (i) the first cob insertion height and plant height; (ii) number of grains per row and number of cobs per plant; (iii) total number of cobs and final plant stand. Maize final plant stand and one thousand seed weight were observed to be traits that could be determinant in grain yield increase.
Keywords: Zea mays L., heritability, genetic parameter, open-pollination, in vivo germplasm, simultaneous selection