Studies on interrelationship and path co-efficient analysis on the basis of fruit yield in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

The genotypic and phenotypic correlation and path co-efficient in nineteen genetically diverse genotypes of eggplant were studied at Vegetable Research Station (C S Azad University and Technology, Kanpur) during Kharif season. Studies on relationship at genotypic level revealed positive and strong correlation of yield per plant, number of branches per plant, width of fruit, plant spread and fruit weight in parents, F1s and F2s, whereas significant and positive association of yield per plant with number of fruits per plant were observed in parents, F1s and F2s at phenotypic level. Path coefficient analysis indicate that number of fruits per plant had highest direct/desirable effect on yield per plant followed by fruit weight in both F1 and F2 at genotypic and phenotypic level and days to flowering in F1 and F2 only at genotypic level. The highest positive direct effect on yield per plant was observed by most of the yield contributing characters, i. e., days to marketable maturity and number of branches per plant via number of fruits per plant, length of fruit and width of fruit, and plant spread via number of fruits per plant in F1 and F2 generations at both genotypic and phenotypic levels.