Correlation and path analysis for yield and its Contributing traits in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill Sp]

Abstract

A field experiment of twenty-seven genotypes of pigeonpea had done with an aim to study correlation and association analysis for grain yield and its yield contributing characters so as to identify genotypes with desirable attributes for utilization in the crop improvement program during Kharif- 2017. Association studies revealed that seed yield Kg per ha showed the highest significant positive correlation with the number of pods per plant (0.8671) followed by plant spread (0.8046) number of branches per plant (0.7098) and number of seeds per pod (r= 0.5023). Direct selection fornumber of pods per plant (0.392), number of branches per plant (0.358) and plant spread (0.35) may be advantageous for selecting the high yielding genotypes in pigeonpea. Indirect effects of the number of branches per plant on seed yield via the number of pods per plant(0.308) and plant spread (0.223). Hence, this character seems to be an important contributor to seed yield and must be considered in the selection for high seed yield.