Correlation and path analysis studies on F2 populations of FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Abstract

Tobacco ('Nicotiana tabaccum') is an industrial plant because of its cured leaves which are used in cigarette and cigar making. Due to the economic significance of cured leaves, the correlated response of cured leaves with other traits is of vital importance in tobacco breeding programs. In the present research, correlation and path analysis is used to determine the interrelationships among cured leaf yield and 8 related traits comprising days to flowering, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area per plant, fresh leaf yield and top grade equivalent. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that cured leaf yield was positively and significantly correlated with most of the studied traits in both F2 populations. The characters such as days to flower and plant height had weak association in both F2 populations. Path analysis revealed that direct contribution of leaf area per plant, top grade equivalent in F2 population of cross TB-70 x TB-102 and fresh leaf yield, top grade equivalent in F2 population of cross TB-100 x TB-102 were of higher magnitude on cured leaf yield. However, indirect positive contribution of leaf area per plant, fresh leaf yield and top grade equivalent were appreciable to enhance the yield.