The objective of this work was to investigate the possibility of a more efficient selection through path analysis and partial correlation in the breeding program of the UENF popcorn population by recurrent selection. Two hundred full-sib progenies were obtained and evaluated by eight traits in two environments in Rio de Janeiro State: Campos dos Goytacazes and Itaocara. The genotypic correlation between popping expansion and grain yield was negative and non significant at the 5% probability level by t test. Path analysis showed that mass weight of 100 grains is the most associated trait at popping expansion in this study. It is possible to obtain correlated response for popping expansion by grain yield, as long as genotypes with smaller grain size are selected from the genotypes with higher grain yield.
Recurrent selection; popping expansion; partial correlation
