Identifying Key Yield and Quality Determinants in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) through Correlation and Path Analysis

Author: T. Nagendra Babu, L. Madhavilatha, M. Reddi Sekhar and B. Vajantha

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Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural research station, Perumallapalle, Tirupati with 316 finger millet genotypes in an Augmented block design and observations were recorded for 16 yield and quality traits. Grain yield plant-1 is positively correlated with harvest index followed fodder yield plant-1, finger number on main ear, productive tillers per plant-1, ear head length and 1000 grain weight. Hence, there is an immense scope for selection for high-yielding finger millet genotypes with these associations and in contrary it showed a negative correlation with calcium content. The path analysis revealed that fodder yield plant-1, followed by productive tillers plant-1, ear head length, finger number on main ear and finger width showed positive direct effect on grain yield. The selection of these traits will be rewarding for the improvement of grain yield.

Keywords

Correlation, path analysis, Augmented block design and finger millet

Conclusion

Investigation of character association in finger millet germplasm lines reveals a significant correlation among various traits in the genotypes under investigation. Days to 50% flowering are positively correlated with days to maturity and finger width but negatively correlated with plant height, calcium and zinc content. Days to maturity showed positive correlations with productive tillers plant-1, finger width, fodder and grain yield plant-1 and negative correlation with calcium and zinc content. Plant height is positively correlated with ear head length, finger length, fodder yield plant-1 and iron while negatively correlated with finger number on the main ear and harvest index. These interrelationships provide valuable insights for targeted breeding strategies to enhance crop performance and quality. The path analysis results revealed that harvest index and fodder yield plant -1 have high positive, direct effect on grain yield plant-1. Considering the nature and magnitude of character association and their direct and indirect effects, it can be inferred that improvement of grain yield plant-1 is possible through the simultaneous manifestation of harvest index and fodder yield plant-1.

References

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How to cite this article

T. Nagendra Babu, L. Madhavilatha, M. Reddi Sekhar and B. Vajantha (2023). Identifying Key Yield and Quality Determinants in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) through Correlation and Path Analysis. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 262-266.