Path analysis in multicollinearity for fruit traits of pepper

Abstract

This study aimed to use path analysis in multicollinearity to assess the genotypic correlation coefficients and their partitions in direct and indirect effects of morphological traits of fruits on the dry matter content of pepper. The experimental plot was a randomized block design with 2 replications and 10 fruits per plot. The data were obtained from the characterization of 10 accessions (varieties) of four pepper species of the genus Capsicum. We assessed the peduncle length, fruit length, largest fruit diameter, pericarp thickness, average fruit weight and dry matter content. We carried out the multicollinearity diagnosis and the ridge path analysis to partition the genotypic correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects, considering dry matter content as the basic variable. The largest fruit diameter showed negative genotypic correlation with the basic variable; however, it is the morphological trait that showed, in isolation, the greatest importance to explain the variation of dry matter content in fruits, and may therefore be used as an auxiliary criterion in processes of indirect selection.