The experimental material comprised of 50 diverse genotypes were sown in randomized block design with three replications in both timely and late sown condition to study correlation and path coefficient for ten quantitative field traits like days to heading, days to maturity, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of tillers per meter row, number of grains per spike,1000 grain weight (g), harvest index (%), biological yield (kg/plot), grain yield (kg/plot) and eight seed parameters viz; seedling length (cm), seed density (g/cc), standard germination (%), seedling dry weight (mg), vigour index I, vigour index II, electrical conductivity (µS/cm/seed) and accelerated ageing at 48 and 72 hours. The grain yield was found to be positively and significantly associated with harvest index, 1000 grain weight and biological yield per plot in both the environments. Characters such as germination per cent, accelerated ageing (48 h, 72 h) and days to maturity were significantly and positively correlated with grain yield under timely sown condition likewise vigour index-I, seedling dry weight and number of tillers per meter were some other traits which had significant positive association with grain yield under late sown condition. Path coefficient analysis indicated that biological yield per plot, harvest index, vigour index-II and seedling length had high positive and significant direct effect in both the environments. Accordingly, emphasis could be given on these traits during selection for varietal improvement programme.

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