Correlation and path coefficient analysis for different biometrical and harvest plus traits in pearl millet {Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.}

The present investigation was carried out to study association among the different biometrical and harvest plus traits with grain yield in pearl millet. The experimental material comprised of 100 advance inbred lines grown in randomized block design with three replications under rain fed conditions. The observations were recorded for 12 quantitative traits [Days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), spike girth (cm), total number of tillers (number/plant), effective number of tillers (number/plant), leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), ear weight (g), grain yield (g/plant), dry fodder yield (g/plot), 1000-grain weight (g)] and two harvest plus traits [ Iron and Zn content (mg / kg grains)]. Correlation analyses were carried out to find the association at phenotypic and genotypic levels among different characters. Grain yield/plant expressed positive and significant correlation with dry fodder yield (0.84) followed by ear weight (0.79), total tillers/plant (0.19), effective tillers/plant (0.19), spike girth (0.16) and plant height (0.15). There was significant and positive association between many traits indicating that these traits could be improved simultaneously. The path coefficient analysis revealed that highest positive and direct effects on grain yield per plant was exerted by dry fodder yield (0.60) followed by total tillers per plant (0.44), ear weight (0.43), and effective tillers per plant (0.38). On the other hand, days to 50 per cent flowering (-0.12), and leaf width (-0.01) had negative direct effects on grain yield per plant. Therefore, selection for higher yield will be useful if it is based on traits such as dry fodder yield, ear weight, total tillers/ plant and effective tillers/plant.