Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Grain Yield and Its Component Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to study character associations and path coefficients for grain yield and its component traits in thirty rice genotypes. Correlation analysis revealed that panicle length, productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle and straw yield per plant showed highly significant positive associations with grain yield per plant at both the phenotypic and genotypic levels, indicating that improvement in these traits could enhance grain yield. Genotypic correlations were generally higher than phenotypic correlations, suggesting a strong genetic basis for the observed associations. Path coefficient analysis indicated that the kernel L/B ratio exerted the highest positive direct effect on grain yield per plant, followed by kernel breadth, panicle length, plant height, grains per panicle, straw yield per plant, 100-grain weight and productive tillers per plant. Among these, panicle length, productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle and straw yield per plant also showed substantial positive indirect effects and strong positive correlations with grain yield per plant, thereby identifying them as important selection criteria for yield improvement in rice. The low residual effect further indicated that the characters included in the analysis sufficiently explained the variability in grain yield per plant.