Cause and effect of quantitative characteristics on grain expansion capacity in popcorn

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the direction and degree of association between two or more characteristics may contribute to increase efficiency in the selection of superior genotypes. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations, as well as the direct and indirect effects of path analysis, for the most suitable selection, using expansion capacity and its primary and secondary components, in diallel hybrids of popcorn. Accordingly, 90 diallel hybrids and a control (IAC 112) were planted both in and out of season in Campos dos Goytacazes, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, following a randomised block design. The characteristics under evaluation were: cycle (CO); plant height (AP); ear height (AE); stem diameter (DC); hundred grain weight (M100); grain expansion capacity (CE); Grain yield (PG); prolificacy (PR); grain length (CG), grain width (LG) and grain thickness (EG). Analysis of the phenotypic (rf), genotypic (rg) and environmental (ra) correlations were carried out, followed by breakdown of the simple correlation coefficients obtained from path analysis into their direct and indirect effects on the main variable CE. The results showed a significant high negative genotypic correlation between the EC and PG of -0.67, demonstrating the difficulty of obtaining hybrids with both a high EC and PG. The variables M100 and PG have the greatest association with expansion capacity, albeit negative. Both the CG and LG have a direct negative influence, and the EG, a direct positive influence, on expansion capacity.