Grain yield and its contributing traits in promising sweetcorn hybrids

Abstract

The augmentation of domestic sweetcorn (Zea mays L. saccharata) production in semiarid regions necessitates the development of new superior hybrids with high yield potential. This study aimed to identify the most influential characteristics contributing to sweetcorn grain yield in these regions. Nineteen promising sweetcorn hybrids and the commercial hybrid KSC403su as the control were examined using a randomized complete block design with three replications in a 2-year study (2021–2022) at the Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Institute Center (ARREO) in Mashhad, Iran. The combined analysis of variance revealed significant variances attributed to genotype (G) for all studied traits, while year (Y) and G × Y effects were significant for most characteristics. Phenotypic correlations indicated a highly significant association of grain yield with grain depth (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), kernel number per row (r = 0.75, p < 0.01), row number per ear (r = 0.63, p < 0.01), ear length (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and ear diameter (r = 0.57, p < 0.01) traits. Path analysis results emphasized the critical role of traits such as grain depth, row number per ear, and ear length, showcasing a highly significant positive direct impact on grain yield and also a significantly positive association with grain yield. In this study, hybrids PSM3, PSM4, PSM9, PSM16, and PSM19 exhibited the highest values for grain yield and yield-contributing traits, suggesting their potential for further research in multiple locations with varying environmental conditions before being recommended to farmers.