This study aimed to propose an index for allowing accurate selection of corn hybrids for producing both baby corn and green corn. The experiments were carried out during the 2002/2003 growing season and ten commercial corn cultivars were evaluated in two experiments, the first for evaluating the yield of baby corn and the second for the yield of green corn. Both experiments were designed in randomized blocks, with three replications. The relative importance of traits was estimated by the principal components method and the cluster analysis was carried out. The following index was obtained: I = 0.031 NEM + 0.013 MEM + 0.207 NEV + 0.243 MEV - 0.16 AP - 0.058 MFP, being considered the variables: number and mass of husked ears for baby corn (NEM and MEM) and green corn (NEV and MEV), plant height (AP) and the fresh mass of tassel (MFP). This index indicated that the three-way cross hybrids DKB 350, AG 8080 and AG 6690 and the double-cross hybrids DKB 747 have the best performances for the production of baby corn and green corn.
principal components; factor analysis; Zea mays L
