Character association and path coefficient analysis of shoot fly resistance and yield components in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to analyze and determine the component traits having strong association with shoot fly resistance and true contribution or mutual relationship toward the grain yield in sorghum. Sorghum RILs population, 110 lines were evaluated and the field experiment was conducted during Kharif season. Grain yield per plant recorded a strong negative correlation with days to 50% flowering, Per cent of oviposition at 14 DAE and dead heart per cent at 21, 28 DAE. Whereas, it showed significant positive correlation with hundred grain weight, seedling vigour, leaf glossinees and trichome density on both surface of leaves. Path coefficient analysis data showed that the characters, hundred grain weight (0.378), trichome density on abaxial leaf surface (0.257), per cent of oviposition at 21 DAE (0.208), dead heart per cent at 21 DAE (0.110), leaf glossiness (0.108) and trichome density on adaxial leaf surface (0.104) had positive direct effect on grain yield. Whereas, negatively direct effects were observed with number of eggs per seedling at 21 DAE (-0.192), dead heart per cent at 28 DAE (-0.190) and days to 50% flowering (-0.183) respectively. The characters, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf width and hundred grain weight were showed positive indirect effect on grain yield but stem girth, leaf length and days to 50% flowering had negative indirect effects. The obtained results from this investigation could help the selection for these traits and improve the shoot fly resistance and high yield varieties in sorghum.