Genetic Analysis of Zea mays Genotypes for Various Physiological and Plant Growth Related Traits to Improve Fodder Yield

For the assessment of correlation among fodder yield and its contributing traits an experiment was carried out in the research area of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during cropping seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13. The genotypes B-316, EV-340, Pop/209, F-96, EV-347, B-322, Raka-poshi, B-327, Sh-139, B-336, B-11 and EV-1097 were selected on the basis of higher green fodder yield, leaf weight, leaf area, stem weight, leaf/stem ratio, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll contents, water use efficiency and leaf temperature and crossed in 6 × 6 North Carolina matting design II. It was concluded that significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were found high among chlorophyll contents, leaves per plant, plant height, leaf weight, stem weight, green fodder yield, leaf area and transpiration rate. It was suggested that selection of higher fodder yielding genotypes may be helpful to enhance crop yield and productivity.