Correlation and path analysis for seed yield and its components in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Sesame is one of the oldest cultivated crops, “known as queen of oilseed crops”. The field experiment was carried out to know the character association and also for determining the cause and effect situation through the assessment of direct and indirect effects of various yield contributing traits by using 45 sesame genotypes. Analysis of variance indicated the presence of good amount of genetic variability among the genotypes under study.Seed yield showed positive significantcorrelation with number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, capsule length, number of seeds per capsule and 1000-seed weight both at genotypic as well as phenotypic levels revealing that selection made on the basis of these characters will assist in enhancing the seed yield. The trait number of capsules per plant showed the highest phenotypic and genotypic correlation with seed yield followed by 1000- seed weight.Path coefficient analysis revealed that 1000-seed weight recorded the highest positive direct effect on seed yield followed by number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsules both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Number of seeds per capsules, capsule length and plant height are the other traits which showed positive direct effect on seed yield. From the study it was concluded that, 1000-seed weight, number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsule were determined as most critical ones as both the correlation coefficients and the direct effects were high with seed yield per plant.

Keywords

• sesame
• correlation
• path analysis
• yield components