DETERMINATION OF SOME EFFECTIVE TRAITS ON CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) YIELD BY USING BIOFERTILIZER UNDER WATER DEFICIT STRESS CONDITIONS

To identify the most effective traits on corn yield by using biofertilizer under water deficit stress, an experiment was carried out in split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Hashtgerd region in 2012. In this experiment, water deficit stress, as the main factor, consisted of four levels (control, stress at flowering, stress at grain filling and stress at both flowering and grain filling stages). Biological fertilizers as sub-plot consisted of four levels of biological fertilizer applications (control, application of Nytrazhyn, application of Barvar 2 fertile and application of both fertilizer Nytrazhyn and Barvar 2). Traits evaluated were seed yield, harvest index, 100 seed weight, number of ears per square meter, number of rows per ear, number of seed per row, weight, diameter and length of seeds. To determine the most effective traits simple correlation, stepwise regression analysis, path analysis and principal component analysis were performed. Multivariate analysis showed that harvest index, 100 grain weight and number of ears per square meter were highly effective on grain yield. They explained 77% and 66% of the total variance under both normal and drought stress conditions respectivly. The highest direct positive effect was related to harvest index under both conditions. To improving seed yielding potential of corn under water deficite cinditions emphasis should be placed mainly on the selection of genotypes with higher harvest indices.