Variability of the constituent elements of the productivity of maize hybrids of different ripeness groups under irrigation conditions

Purpose. To determine the correlation dependences of the constituent elements of the productivity of maize hybrids of different ripeness groups with grain producti­vity under irrigation conditions in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. The article presents the results of studies to determine the correlation dependencies between the biometric features of the corn cob, in order to assess plant productivity. According to the number of rows per ear, hybrids of late ripening groups stood out – 17.7 pcs., medium late forms were statistically close to this – 16.8 pcs. The largest number of grains in a row was formed by hybrids of the middle-late group (FAO 400–490) 48.8 pcs. The highest grain weight from the cob wasfound in hybrids of the middle-late group – 312.5 g. It was shown that the number of rows has significant correlation with the diameter of the core and cob. The number of rows had a stable low directed effect on productivity. A significant correlation is fixed between the number of grains in a row and such signs as the length of the core and the length of the grained cob. Connection was high in all FAO groups. The mass of grains per cob is the main component of the structure of the corn crop. A close correlation of the mass of grains per cob was observed with the following signs: grain productivity, length of the core, length of the cob with grains, diameter of the cob, weight of 1000 seeds, grain yield. Conclusions. Under irrigation conditions the genotypic variability of the constituent elements of the maize hybrids productivity was revealed, which allows predicting the conduct of effective screening on specific characteristics according to ripeness groups.The revealed correlation dependences between quantitative signs of the cob structure and grain yield will allow to make a preliminary assessment of potential yield by factorial charac­teristics adapted to the conditions of irrigation of corn hybrids with FAO 180–600.