CORRELATIONS AND GENETIC PARAMETERS IN MAIZE HYBRIDS

The study of the genetic control of agronomic traits and heritage through estimates of genetic parameters of a population allows inferences about its genetic variability and which can be expected of gain with selection. Know the correlations among traits of interest for selection allows to the breeder know the degree of association among traits of economic importance, given that the selection of certain trait changes the behavior of the other. With the aim to estimate genetic parameters and identify agronomic traits correlated with the grain yield of maize hybrids, an experiment was conducted at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul - University Unit of Aquidauana (UEMS/UUA). The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. Treatments consisted of 20 maize hybrids. The traits evaluated were: plant height, first ear height, stem diameter, ear diameter, ear length, number of rows per ear, number of kernels per row, hundred grain weight and grain yield. The hybrids XB9010, P30F53, 20A78HX, XB6012, P3340, AG9010 and XB7253, obtained the highest grain yield and mass of one hundred grains. The population has a genetic variability and potential for selection of all traits. Based on the evaluated genetic parameters, mass of hundred grains can be used at the direct selection of genotypes with high grain yield.