Diversity Analysis of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. var. Saccharata) genotypes based on morphological characters

Abstract

In the present study 35 sweet corn genotypes with 4 checks were evaluated for diversity analysis on the basis of 12 morphological characters viz. days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, plant height, ear height, number of cobs plant-1, cob length, kernel rows cob–1, kernels row-1, 100 seed weight, green fodder yield, seed yield and days to maturity, using augmented block design at Dry-land Agriculture Research Station Budgam, SKUAST-K during the year 2024-2025. The genotypes were divided into 5 blocks of 7 genotypes each with checks replicated in each block. The mean values for 12 morphological characters were recorded. The highest value of co-efficient of variation was found for number of cobs plant-1 (17.05%) followed by traits kernel rows cob-1 (13.31%) and cob length (13.22%). The analysis of variance revealed that mean sum of squares for blocks showed non-significant results while ignoring treatments, whereas blocks showed significant results for characters like plant height, ear height, cob length and kernels per row while eliminating treatments. The mean sum of squares for checks vs entries was significant for all characters. The principal components formed were equal to number number of characters (12), only 4 principal components were having Eigen values >1 contributing 77.01% of total cummilative percentage with component-1 having the maximum percentage of 34.98%. The trait 50% tasseling showed positive correlation for all traits except ear height (-0.07). Plant height and ear height showed positive and significant correlation with traits like ear height, cob length, kernels per row and seed yield. Number of cobs plant-1 showed negative correlation with kernels per row, 100 seed weight and seed yield. Cob length showed positive and significant correlation with traits like kernel rows per cob, kernels per row and seed yield.