Evolution Analysis of Yield and Related Traits of Maize Varieties in High Density Group of Regional Experiment in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2021

In order to understand relative importance of main agronomic traits in yield composition of maize in Anhui Province, relationship and evolution between yield and main agronomic traits of maize varieties tested in high density group of regional experiment in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2021 were analyzed by correlation analysis and path analysis．Results showed that output level of testing varieties in Anhui Province rised steadily, evolution trend of number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, ear length, and seed yield was consistent with yield, which had a significant direct impact on yield．Growth period, plant height, spike height, spike diameter, bald tip length, empty stem rate, and lodging（folding）rate showed a downward trend, which was also directly related to continuous improvement of yield．Correlation coefficients between characters and yield were panicle diameter > row grain number > panicle length > seed-producing rate > 1000-grain weight > panicle position height > growth period > plant height > panicle row number > lodging rate > empty stem rate > bare tip length, and panicle diameter, row grain number, panicle length, seed-producing rate and yield were significantly positively correlated．The 1000-grain weight, panicle height, growth period and plant height had no significant correlation with yield, while number of panicle rows, empty stem rate, lodging rate and bare tip length had negative correlation with yield．It was found that panicle diameter, grain number per row, panicle length, seed-producing rate and 1000-grain weight were highly correlated with yield of 550 varieties, but row number per ear was not highly correlated with yield．