Determination of relationships between ear leaf chlorophyll content and yield and yield components in maize (Zea mays L. Indentata sturt) by path analysis

This study was conducted for evaluation of the relationship between ear leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) and grain yield and yield component of dent maize hybrids grown commonly in the Cukurova region in 2011 growing season. Maize hybrids had significant differences (P≤0.01) for ear leaf SPAD valueas at 21th and 28th day after tasselling. As well as, ear leaf SPAD values were significantly related with ear grain number, biological yield and harvest index. There were positive and significant correlations between ear leaf SPAD values and ear grain number at 7th, 14th, 21th and 28th days after taselling, while relationship between ear leaf SPAD values and biological yield were negatively correlated in the 14th, 21th and 28th days after tasseling. Ear leaf SPAD values was negatively correlated with harvest index in 7th, 21th days after tasselling, while it was significantly correlated in the 21th days after tasselling with harvest index. In this study, hybrids were statsitically significant for grain yield, maize vs, P31G98 has the highest grain yield (1850 kg da-1) while ADA523 has lowest yield (1472 kg da-1). As a result, ear leaf SPAD values could not directly influenced the grain yield, while grain yield had negatively and indirectly affected by the ear number per plant and leaf number under the ear. On the other hand, grain yield had positively and indirectly affected by the green leaf number per plant. Key words: Maize, SPAD, grain yield, biological yield.