Correlation and path analysis using growth, flowering, fruiting and biochemical parameters in cape gooseberry

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the year 2020–21, wherein ten genotypes of cape gooseberry were studied for the correlation and path analysis using growth, flowering, fruiting and biochemical parameters. The fruit yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with stem thickness (0.955), shoot number (0.610), leaf area (0.404), fruit weight (0.963), fruit length (0.226), fruit breadth (0.407) and fruit volume (0.518). The earliness parameters viz., days to initiation of flowering (0.937), days for initial fruit set (0.950) and days for fruit harvest (0.897) also showed positive and significant correlation with yield per plant. The resistance to viral infection (−0.857) and resistance to fruit cracking (−0.576) showed substantial negative correlation with yield per plant. The path coefficient analysis revealed the direct and positive effect of plant height, fruit weight, fruit breadth and days for fruit harvest on fruit yield, thus indicating the significance of these traits in cape gooseberry improvement. Fruit number in conjunction with fruit weight, fruit breadth and fruiting period were the most important factors contributing to main yield component. Hence these attributes should be given more priority in breeding and selection programme of high yielding genotypes of cape gooseberry.