Abstract :
ABSTRACT: In order to study morphological traits of maize inbred lines under drought stress a field trial was conducted under non-stress and different drought stress conditions (stress at vegetative (6-7 leaves), pollination and grain filling stages) at the Agricultural College of Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar branch, Iran during 2010. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design by a randomized completely block design with three replications. Results showed that grain filling period, grain number per ear, grain number per row and grain width traits have the positive and significant correlation with grain yield. Stepwise regression results for grain yield indicated that grain filling period and grain number per ear in the model were interested and 99.7% determined variation of grain yield using two traits. Factor analysis based on principal component analysis showed that three independent factor, respectively 50.80, 31.99 and 17.21 percent of all variation data determined. Grain yield, yield components and phenological traits played as the first factor and the second factor included ear morphology and plant height as well as the third one composed of grain characteristics and ear diameter. Therefore, with attention to that grain filling period and grain number per ear has the most positive and significant correlation with grain yield, in regression in the model were interested, and these traits in first factor have positive factor coefficients use of the grain filling period and grain number per ear traits in the drought stress for the increase of grain yield is useful.
