PJB-2022-280
PATH COEFFICIENT ANALYSIS AND TRAIT ASSOCIATION STUDIES FOR YIELD ENHANCEMENT IN CHILI (Capsicum annum L.)
Ghulam Ullah
Abstract
Successful execution of plant breeding programs requires diversity among key yield contributing traits and their positive association with final yield. Association of major traits with chili fruit yield and their direct and mediated effects through path analysis were explored in this research. During 2018 and 2019, trials were conducted on 6 chili genotypes using randomized complete block design with three replications. Pooled analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) diversity among the genotypes for plant height, canopy width, days to first flowering, number of main branches, days to first fruiting, fruit length, fruit diameter, single fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant. Days to first flowering and fruiting had an intermediate positive correlation (r < 0.7) with fruit yield and also their path analysis revealed no substantial direct or mediated contribution to yield. Number of main branches, plant height, single fruit weight, and number of fruits per plant exhibited strong positive (r > 0.7) correlation with fruit yield. Path analysis of single fruit weight and number of fruits per plant showed the highest (> 0.5) positive direct effect on chili fruit yield. Although, plant height and number of main branches exhibited small direct effect on yield, their positive mediated effect on yield through single fruit weight and number of fruits per plant was high (> 0.4). These traits also showed high (> 20) genetic advance over mean and high heritability (> 80%). Therefore, for superior chili cultivars development selection should be practiced for plant height, number of main branches, single fruit weight, and number of fruits per plant.
To Cite this article:
Download
