Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis for morphological and quality traits in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Abstract

The phenotypic and genotypic variances, correlation and path coefficient, heritability and genetic advances were estimated for yield attributing traits in 50 genotypes of pigeonpea. High estimates of genotypic and phenotypic variance were observed for days to 50 percent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, harvest index and grain yield per plant. Estimation of high heritability coupled with high to moderate genetic advance as percentage of mean was observed for harvest index, number of seeds per pod and number of branches per plant which forcing to conclude that these characters were governed by additive gene action. The character grain yield per plant was found to be highly significant and positively correlated with days to 50 percent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, harvest index and protein content at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Thus, selection practiced for the improvement in one character will automatically result in the improvement in the yield