Abstract: Anthesis silking interval (ASI) is an important index to measure the stress tolerance of maize. In order to study the relationship between yield, ASI and other traits, twelve largely cultivated corn varieties in Huang-Huai-Hai area were shaded in seven days and fifteen days by 50% under artificial shading and control at the tasseling stage. The results suggested that under seven days shading condition, there were delayed tasseling stage of different varieties, prolonged ASI, shorter ear length, and decreased row number and row grains, and the grain yield decreased seriously, but plant height, ear height, ear diameter and 100 grain weight were not significantly affected. Under fifteen days shading condition, ASI of different varieties was significantly prolonged (except ‘Yuhe 988’), resulting in unbalanced male and female, the plant could not be normally pollinated. Correlation analysis found that under seven days shading condition, varieties’ ASI was significantly and negatively correlated with grain yield. Taking the percentage of plot yield reduction and ASI as the index, the ‘Yuhe 988’, ‘Wuke 2’, ‘Liyu 16’ could be classified as strong shade tolerant varieties.