Abstract

Elephant-grass ('Pennisetum purpureum' Schum) is known to have a great potential for biomass production, but studies on genotype responses to different sites and growing seasons are still scarce and necessary. This study aimed to estimate correlation and path coefficient analysis for biomass production trait in elephant grass under semi-annual cutting cycles. The experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2015 in a randomized block design with two replications. Seventy-three elephant grass cultivars (genotypes) were assessed during six cutting cycles. Cuts were manually performed when grasses reached a height of 1.5 m (semi-annually). The following variables were analyzed HGT, SD, NT, LW, %DM and DMP. Data were subjected to individual and joint variance analysis, in addition to analysis of genotypic, environmental, and phenotypic correlation and path analysis decomposition. Both genotypes and cuts had significant effects on all the variables. HGT, SD, and LW were significant, positive, and genotypically correlated with DMP. In terms of direct effects on DMP, NT (1.44) stood out with the highest effect and total correlation, thus showing a major contribution to DMP increases. Regarding indirect effects, %DM had a positive influence on DMP via NT and LW. The selection of plants with a high %DM included genotypes with lower SD, HGT, and LW and higher NT. The environmental component had a greater influence on the relationships involving both NT and SD.

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