Abstract: The average yield per unit area of maize (Zea mays L.) has increased considerably since 1960s, but the consumption demand also increases year by year. Therefore, as one of the most important food crops in the world, it is imperative to tap the high yield potential of maize. Variety breeding has great contribution to maize yield. To provide a theoretical basis for maize breeding in the future, this paper analyzed the structure and function indexes of maize cultivars based on summing up previous researches. The results are as follows: (1) ear height or ear ratio (ear height/plant height), and the angle between stem and leaf significantly decrease, but leaf area, green leaf duration increase with the improvement of maize cultivars; (2) compared with old cultivars, new cultivars have more light transmittance, less extinction coefficient in canopy, and have lower lodging rate, higher dry matter accumulation rate and harvest index; (3) although the selection traits are different between domestic and foreign varieties in breeding, the traits of maize cultivars are generally optimized. Based on the above analysis, it is proposed that in future maize breeding, the highlights should be on the cultivars’resistance to disease, insect and grass as well as high planting density.