Correlation and Path Analysis in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits

Abstract

The present investigation, entitled “Correlation and Path analysis in Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for yield and yield attributing traits”, was carried out using thirty genotypes of pearl millet to determine the extent of variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path coefficient analysis. The experiment was conducted in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three replications at the crop research farm, Tantia University, Sriganganagar, during Kharif, 2024. The observations were recorded for ten different traits viz., days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), effective tiller/plant, ear head length (cm), ear head girth (cm), test weight (g), grain yield per plant (g), biological yield per plant (g), harvest index (%). The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied, which indicates the presence of a considerable amount of variability for all the traits under study. Among the genotypes, the genotype HHB-68 recorded maximum grain yield per plant, ear head length, ear head girth and test weight. In the present study, high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for biological yield per plant, followed by grain yield per plant, effective tiller/plant, test weight and harvest index. This result suggested that the selection of these characters will be useful for the improvement of the crop. Correlation analysis showed that the grain yield per plant exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation with effective tiller/plant, plant height, ear head length, ear head girth, test weight and biological yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Thus, these characters were the most important traits and may impart considerable respect for higher grain yield. Based on the variability, correlation and path analysis, it can be concluded that the number of effective tiller tillers per plant, ear head length, ear head diameter and biological yield per plant could be used as selection criteria to identify the suitable genotypes for future breeding programmes.