Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part Q (2025)

Grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) is a complex quantitative trait influenced by multiple morphological, physiological, and biochemical characters. The present study investigated interrelationships among yield components with a special focus on the relationship between protein and starch content. Forty maize inbred lines, along with two checks, were evaluated during Kharif 2024 at R.K. Nagar Farm, Kolhapur, under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Maize in a randomized block design. Correlation analysis revealed that grain yield per plant exhibited highly significant positive associations with cob weight, starch content, 100-kernel weight, number of kernels per row, cob diameter, number of kernel rows per cob, cob length, cob height, and plant height. Protein content, however, showed a strong negative association with both grain yield and starch content, highlighting a trade-off between yield and nutritional quality. Path coefficient analysis confirmed that cob weight exerted the strongest direct positive influence on yield, while protein content and days to silking showed negative direct effects. Genetic divergence analysis grouped the genotypes into five clusters, revealing wide genetic variability, with clusters IV and V showing superior yield and starch performance. This study emphasizes that while starch content can serve as a reliable selection criterion for yield improvement, careful consideration is required to balance the negative association of protein with yield and starch to achieve nutritionally balanced maize.