Correlation between Agronomic and Chemical Characteristics of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Genotypes after Two Years of Mass Selection

This particular study was carried out to determine the degree of relationship existing between agronomic and chemical characteristics of the 71 maize genotypes in order to provide information that would guide the choice of parents for developing synthetics or hybrids with high agronomic and nutritional values. Correlation analysis was used to monitor the relationships that existed between different agronomic and chemical traits of the genotypes and correlation co-efficient (r) was determined using SPSS 2007 version. Results obtained in both two planting seasons of 2013 and 2014 showed that plant height had positive correlation with yield components such as number of tassels/plant, number of ears, number of rows/cob and number of seeds/row, cob length and circumference. However, there was no significant correlation between agronomic and chemical characteristics measured, especially the yield components, except number of seeds per row and oil which correlated positively. Also, significant and negative correlation was observed between amylose and amylopectin. The negative but non-significant correlation between protein and lysine implies that more and effective selection pressure on the genotypes could cause them to be uncorrelated. Since no significant relationship existed between chemical characteristics and most agronomic traits, it indicated that good chemical quality such as high protein as well as high oil maize can be bred and selected without necessarily affecting the agronomic traits such as plant and ear heights.