Study response of corn single cross hybrids to drought stress using multivariate statistical analysis

In order to study effect of drought stress on morphologic traits, yield and yield components of 6 S.C hybrids of corn, an experiment was carried out on based of complete randomized block design with three replication under drought stress condition in Khorasan razavi agricultural Research and natural resources institute mashhad, Iran on 2010. Results of analysis of variance showed that there are significant different between all hybrids for all traits. Results of hybrid means comparison showed that S.C704 hybrid was better than others in total leaf number, ear length, row number per ear and yield traits. Regression coefficient showed that ear weight was the highest positive direct effect and cob weight was the highest negative direct effect on total yield. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed and sex common factor have been extracted, which describe most of traits variation. First and second factor nomination as ear morphological traits and yield respectively. Cluster analysis with Ward’s method, arrangement hybrids into three different groups. In general results of this experiment showed that, S.C 701 and 704 hybrids of grain corn was better than all evaluated hybrid about tolerance to drought stress under Mashhad climate condition.