Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Yield Traits in Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) under Aonla and Guava Cropping Systems

Abstract

Thirty-two turmeric genotypes collected from different resources were evaluated for yield and yield attributes at the Department of Horticulture, Naini, Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during two consecutive years 2019-20 and 2020-2021. The data recorded on different characters were subjected to work out path coefficient analysis to investigate the association, direct and indirect contribution of various characters on rhizome yield (q ha-1). The genotypic and phenotypic path coefficient analysis indicated that traits like plant height, number of tillers per stem, number of leaves per plant, leaf area (cm), number of secondary rhizomes, weight of fingers (g), weight of mother rhizome,  curcumin and oleoresin exhibited high and positive direct effects on rhizome yield per ha (q-1) at both level of genotypic and phenotypic under Aonla cropping system in 2019-2020. Whereas the revealed that the maximum direct effect on rhizome yield per ha (q-1) was expressed by plant height, leaf area (cm), number of fingers, weight of fingers (g) and curcumin at both genotypic and phenotypic level of turmeric under Aonla cropping system in 2020-21. Revealed that the maximum direct effect on rhizome yield per ha (q-1) was expressed by plant height, number of tillers per stem, number of leaves per plant, number of fingers, weight of fingers (g), weight of mother rhizome, oleoresin at both level of genotypic and phenotypic of turmeric under guava cropping system in 2019-20.  Whereas revealed that the maximum direct effect on  rhizome yield per ha (q-1) was expressed by plant height, number of leaves per plant, weight of fingers (g) and oleoresin. At both genotypic and phenotypic of turmeric under guava cropping system in 2020-21. In pooled analysis for two seasons (2019-20 & 2020-21) under each (aonla and guava) cropping system revealed that weight of fingers per plant (0.356 & 0.331) exhibited the highest positive direct effect on rhizome yield per ha followed by plant height (0.248 & 0.351), leaf area (0.240 & 0.015) and number of fingers (0.078 & 0.233) at phenotypic level respectively.