Correlation Analysis of Fifteen Quantitative Characters in Maize DUS Testing

Sun Jiamei; Sun Yuejin; Zhang Han; Zheng Yongsheng; Li Hua; Xian Lina; Wang Xiujuan; Wang Dongjian; Li Ruyu

doi:10.14083/j.issn.1001-4942.2015.12.003

Abstract：In order to reduce the time and labor input in the survey of quantitative characteristics in maize DUS testing,the correlation analysis of nine visual group characters and six metric individual characters was performed.In this study,200 inbred lines and 200 single hybrids were used for the observatoin of group characters,and 40 inbred lines and 40 single hybrids were used for investigation of individual characters.The results indicated that the correlation coefficients between character 16 (tassel:length of main axis above the lowest lateral branch)and 17 (tassel:length of main axis above the highest lateral branch)were 0.953 and 0.917 for inbred lines and single hybrids respectively;and the correlation coefficients between character 4 (pollinating period)and 5 (silking time)were 0.882 and 0.831 for inbred lines and single hybrids respec-tively.Both the above correlation coefficients reached very significant level.Other four pairs of characters (Char.9 and Char.11,Char.11 and Char.21,Char.15 and Char.21,Char.21 and Char.42)were signifi-cantly or very significantly correlated in both inbred lines and single hybrids with lower correlation coefficient values.Two pairs of characters(Char.11 and Char.15,Char.15 and Char.42)were only significantly corre-lated in single hybrids with lower correlation coefficient values.The other six pairs of characters were not sig-nificantly correlated in the two types of materials.Measurement of character 16 and 17 with high correlation was time -consuming and labor intensive,so it was suggested to reserve one of them in the DUS testing guide-lines or be replaced by tassel length.