Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(4): 1840-1843 1840 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.704.209 Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Single Cross Hybrids in Maize (Zea mays L.) Saripalli Varalakshmi * , Mruthunjaya C. Wali, S.K. Deshpande and S.I. Harlapur Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of agricultural sciences, Dharwad-580005, Karnataka, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most superior cereal crops in the world due to its wide adaptation and varieties of utilisation. The expansion of maize to new areas and environment still continues, as it has wide range of plasticity and hence the suitability of maize to diverse environments is unmatched by any other crop. It plays a significant role in human and livestock nutrition world-wide. Grain yield in maize is a complex trait which is highly influenced by the external environment and the complexity is the result of complex interactions among different yield attributing traits. Hence, information regarding genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients among various plant traits help to ascertain the degree to which these traits are associated with economic productivity. The association between two characters can directly be observed as phenotypic correlation while genotypic correlation expresses the extent to which two traits are genetically associated. Genotypic correlation results from linkage and pleotropy. Path coefficient analysis measures the cause of association between two variables; it measures direct and indirect contribution of different International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 04 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The yield is a complex trait, which is highly influenced by the environment and hence indirect selection through component traits would be an advisable strategy to increase the efficiency of selection. Fifty two F1 ’ s generated by crossing 26 lines with 2 testers in line × tester fashion were evaluated in randomized block design along with three standard checks with two replications. Plant height, ear height, cob length, cob girth, number of rows per ear and test weight recorded significant positive correlation both at genotypic and phenotypic level. However, path analysis revealed that days to 50% tasseling, number of rows per ear and test weight revealed high positive direct effect on grain yield. Keywords Maize, Correlation, Path analysis, Grain yield Accepted: 16 March 2018 Available Online: 10 April 2018 Article Info