Genetic Variability and Path- Coefficient Analysis for Forage Yield and its Components in Egyptian Clover

Abstract

Thirteen populations of Egyptian clover had evaluated. Eight promising populations selected for high forage yield and five varieties were evaluated for forage yield and its components at Sakha Agricultural Research Station across two growing seasons 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Genetic variance, phenotypic variance, heritability in broad sense, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variability were studied. The results from the combined analysis of two seasons showed that Helaly variety recorded the highest of total fresh yield, total dry yield, mean plant height and mean No. of stems (0.25m2) whereas (107.39 kg/plot, 2.87 kg/plot, 74.2cm. and 251.56). Heritability was high for all traits studied. Fresh forage yield was highly significance (92.9%) followed by No. of stems (86.2%). Positive correlation was obtained between dry forage yield and No. of stems (0.956 and 0.992). Also, between dry forage yield and No. of stems (0.938) and fresh leaf/stem ratio with dry leaf stem ratio (0.996). Path-coefficient analysis revealed that No. of stems had the highest positive direct effect on fresh forage yield (dependent) (0.956), followed by dry leaf/stem ratio (0.867) and plant height (0.13) independents.