Analysis on Evolution Rule of Main Traits of Maize Varieties Approved in Shandong Province in Recent 20 Years

Sun Yue; Ku Tingting; Xiong Wei; Liu Qiantong; Dang Tongyang; Zhang Chao; Liu Xia; Leng Bingying; Zhang Enying

doi:10.14083/j.issn.1001-4942.2025.03.005

Abstract：In order to understand the relationship between yield and main traits of maize varieties in Shandong Province and the evolution rule of these traits,the maize varieties of Shandong Province approved from 2004 to 2023 were used as materials,and the correlation analysis,path analysis and principal component analysis were conducted.The results showed that the growth period,plant height,ear length,number of rows per ear,number of grains per ear,average annual yield,crude fat content and crude starch content of these maize varieties showed the upward trend with the change of years.The ear height,ear diameter and lysine con-tent showed the downward trend with the change of years.The seed rate,bulk density,1 000-grain weight and crude protein content did not change significantly with the change of years.The results of correlation analysis showed that the yield was significantly positively correlated with most agronomic traits,and significantly nega-tively correlated with ear height,ear diameter and lysine content.The results of path analysis showed that the direct effects on yield from large to small were growth period,lysine content,grain number per ear,ear height,1 000-grain weight,crude protein content,ear length,crude starch content,plant height,seed yield,row number per ear,bulk density,crude fat content and ear diameter.Among them,except lysine content,ear height,seed yield,crude fat content and ear diameter had direct negative effects on yield,and the other traits had direct positive effects.In summary,in the future,the breeding of maize varieties in Shandong Prov-ince should coordinate the relationship between various traits,appropriately extend the growth period,and pay attention to the improvement of grain number per ear,1 000-grain weight and bulk density in order to achieve high yield,and also strengthen the improvement of quality traits at the same time,so as to cultivate more new varieties with highyield and good quality.