Genetic correlation and path analysis of common bean collected from Caceres Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to determine genetic correlations of agronomic traits and to evaluate direct and indirect effects, through path analysis, between variables analyzed with grain yield. Forty accessions of common bean, cultivated at Caceres County were evaluated, by using randomized complete blocks design with three repetitions. Coefficient magnitudes of genotypic correlations were superior to phenotypic and environmental ones for most correlations, suggesting greater influence of genetic factor than environmental factors. In order to determine the importance of direct and indirect effects, path analysis was performed, which provided greater reliability in interpretations of cause and effect between studied traits, indicating that grain yield may be explained by the effects of analyzed traits. Number of seeds per plant (0.801) and grain weight (0.641) showed higher favorable effect over grain yield, allowing its use in direct or indirect selection for grain yield in common bean.

Keywords

• caracteres agronômicos
• coeficiente de correlação
• melhoramento genético
• Phaseolus vulgaris L.
• produtividade de grãos.