Determination of relations between freshyield and yield components and quality characters by different methods in Sweet Corn Variety Merit

Aim of this study was to determine the selection criteria for plant breeders in sweet corn using correlation, path coefficient, regression analyses. The experiments were conducted during 2009 and 2010 at the Agricultural Faculty of Research Field, Eskisehir Osmangazi University. Sweet corn variety Merit was used as research material. The experiment was designed as randomized complete block with four replications. Yield and yield components such as ear weight (de-husked), ear length, ear diameter, number of kernels per ear, number of rows per ear, kernel weight per ear and ear yield, thousand kernel weight and as quality components sugar and starch content were determined. Statistically differences were found among year for all traits. In 2009 yield and yield components had lower than 2010. In conclusion, ear weight(de- husked) could be used as selection criterion because its highly positively correlated with grain yield. Thousand kernel weight could also be considered for selection in sweet corn breeding.