Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine relationships between grain yield and other characteristics using correlation and path analysis methods under normal and drought stress conditions in maize (Zea mays L.) and thus identify the appropriate selection criteria for drought tolerance breeding studies. In the study, 38 maize hybrids were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications in normal and drought stress conditions in Antalya in 2013 and 2014. A total of 17 morphological and physiological traits including yield and yield components, were investigated. According to the correlation coefficient analysis, number of kernel per ear (0.59) and anthesis-silking interval (ASI) (-0.71) in normal conditions and number of ears per plant (EPP) (0.74) and ASI (-0.65) in drought stress conditions had the highest positive and negative associations with grain yield, respectively. Path analysis showed that selection for the number of days to tasseling, number of days to silking, thousand kernel weight and number of ears per plant can increase the possibility for obtaining high-yielding varieties under normal conditions. On the other hand, it was found that the parameters related to flowering had the highest direct impact on the yield in drought stress conditions. Especially, it was concluded that ASI trait can be used as the primary selection criteria for drought tolerance breeding.

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