Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Grain Yield and Starch Content in Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines Evaluated Across Diverse Agro-climatic locations of Telangana

Abstract

Identification of reliable yield-contributing traits is essential for improving maize inbred lines used in hybrid development. The present investigation was conducted during kharif 2025 across three agro-climatic zones of Telangana to assess phenotypic and genotypic associations among grain yield, starch content and related agronomic traits in maize. Forty maize inbred lines and four standard checks were evaluated in a randomised block design with two replications at each location. Observations were recorded for fourteen traits, including flowering, maturity, plant and ear traits, kernel traits, test weight, shelling percentage, starch content and grain yield per plant. Correlation analysis indicated that grain yield per plant was positively associated with plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, number of kernels per row, shelling percentage and test weight at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Plant height showed the strongest positive association with grain yield. Flowering and maturity traits were negatively associated with grain yield, indicating that delayed reproductive development was unfavourable in the evaluated material. Starch content showed a weak positive phenotypic association and a negative genotypic association with grain yield. Path coefficient analysis indicated that plant height, ear length, shelling percentage, ear diameter and kernel-related traits contributed directly or indirectly to grain yield. The findings suggest that these traits may be useful selection criteria for improving maize inbred lines under Telangana conditions.