Correlation and path coefficient analyses in large seeded peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) for kernel yield

Abstract

Expression of complex traits like yield is the result of interaction of several yield contributing features. In the current research, association analysis and path analysis were conducted in an experiment involving 65 peanut genotypes to determine association of kernel yield and its component traits. Plant height, number of secondary branches per plant, number of mature pods per plant, number of immature pods per plant, pod yield per plant, 100 seed weight and protein content recorded positive significant correlation with kernel yield per plant. The results of PCA and Ward dendrogram pattern jointly inferred that plant height, number of mature pods per plant, number of immature pods per plant, pod yield per plant, 100 seed weight, oleic acid content and oleic linoleic acid ratio were found to be closely associated with kernel yield per plant. Further, results of path analysis suggested that number of mature pods per plant, 100 seed weight, number of secondary branches per plant and sound mature kernel per cent were leading in determining the kernel yield of peanut through direct positive effects and indirect positive effects via different yield attributing traits.