GENETIC, PHENOTYPIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COR RELATIONS IN 2 CYCLES OF SELECTION IN THE DENTADO-COMPOSTO CORN

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic, phenotypic a nd environmental correlation coefficients among the following traits: plant height (PH), ear height (EH), ear number per plant (EN), ear num ber with husk problems (ENHP), Spodoptera frugiperda damage (SF), Heli othis zea damage (HZ) and grain yield (GY). Data were collected from t wo cycles of selection among and within hal-sib families in ''Dentado Composto'' com, assessing SF and HZ damages and high grain yield. Natu ral infestation of these insect pests was considered. The experiments were conducted in the experimental field of IPA. No correlation was ob served between PH and SF nor between EH and HZ. The GY character was n egatively correlated with HZ and SF; however in the first cycle, the g enetic correlation between GY x SF was positive and lower (r = 0,027* ). The character SF showed negative and significative genetic correlat ions with HZ; this association was lower in the second cycle. There wa s an increase in the number of genetic correlations higher than the en vironmental in the second cycle.