Character Association and Path Analysis for Grain Yield and Yield Components in White Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) Germplasm

Author: Boddu Aruna, Ganapathy K.N., C.V. Sameer Kumar and Venkateswarlu Ronda

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Abstract

White finger millet is generally low yielder when compared to brown finger millet but it is nutritionally superior and is desired for its use especially in bakery and other products. Grain yield is a complex trait and it is influenced by many independent traits. Therefore, the knowledge of association studies is beneficial to breeder for improvement of yield. Finger millet is the third most important millet after pearl millet and sorghum and occupies an estimated area of 1.23 million hectares in India. Grains of finger millet are known for having highest levels of calcium (250-350 mg/100g) in addition to quality protein (7-9%), dietary fibre (2-4%) and other mineral content (2.7%). The present study aimed at understanding the genetic relationships among various grain attributing traits in white finger millet germplasm lines. The study was conducted in alpha lattice design in two replications for the evaluation of ten quantitative traits in 52 germplasm lines of white finger millet in kharif 2022. The traits include days to 50% flowering, plant height, finger length, finger width, number of tillers, number of fingers, panicle weight, days to maturity, grain yield per plot and test weight. Association studies revealed that plant height, number of tillers per plant, panicle weight and test weight showed a positive significant association with grain yield per plot at both genotypic and phenotypic level respectively. Grain yield per plot exhibited negative significant association with days to 50% flowering and days to maturity at both genotypic and phenotypic level respectively. Path analysis revealed that panicle weight, test weight, plant height and finger width showed a positive significant direct effect on grain yield per plot at both genotypic and phenotypic level respectively. Correlation and path analysis concluded that the characters panicle weight, number of tillers per plant, plant height and test weight showed a true association with grain yield per plot and significant positive correlation with high positive direct effects. Hence direct selection of these traits will be beneficial.

Keywords

Finger millet, Correlation, Path analysis, Grain yield, Genotypic, Phenotypic

Conclusion

The current investigation of correlation analysis showed that panicle weight followed by the number of number of tillers per plant, plant height and test weight had a significant and positive association with grain yield per plot. Weight of panicle contributing more towards the grain yield per plot among all characters that have significant association. According to path analysis, grain yield was significantly and positively affected by weight of panicle, number of tillers per plant, plant height and test weight. The results of the present study of correlation and path analysis concluded that weight of panicle, number of tillers per plant, plant height and test weight had a significant positive and direct effect on grain yield per plot. Therefore, it is beneficial to put more focus on these traits in the selection process to increase the grain yield of white finger millet.

References

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How to cite this article

Boddu Aruna, Ganapathy K.N., C.V. Sameer Kumar and Venkateswarlu Ronda (2023). Character Association and Path Analysis for Grain Yield and Yield Components in White Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) Germplasm. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(7): 267-271.