Studies on correlation and path coefficient analysis in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) BEAUV]

Abstract

The present investigation consists of 40 genotypes of Foxtail Millet, which were grown in the Field Experimentation Centre of the Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, SHUATS, Prayagraj during Kharif 2019 following RBD with three with three replications. The data were recorded on 13 characters to study the analysis of variance, heritability, genetic advance, coefficient of variation, correlation coefficient and path analysis. Based on the mean performance genotype ISE1419, were identified as best genotypes for grain yield per plant. Highly significant variation was obtained for all characters studies. The values of PCV were higher than that of GCV for all the characters. High heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance as percent mean were observed for Harvest index(%) followed by test weight, Grain yield, No. of basal tillers, Inflorescence width. Thus these traits are predominantly under the control of additive gene action and these Charecters can be improved by selection. Moderately high genetic advance observed for Days to 50% flowering, leaf width, flag leaf length Biological yield and No. of days to maturity. These traits appear to be under the control of both additive and non additive gene actions. The present study revealed that grain yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with Days to 50% flowering, No. of Days to maturity, Plant height, Panicle length, Inflorescence width, Biological yield, Harvest index, Test weight. Path analysis studies revealed that Days to 50% flowering, Panicle length, Peduncle length, Biological yield, Harvest index and Test weight had true relationship with grain yield per plant by establishing significant positive association and positive direct effect at phenotypic level. Considering the nature and magnitude of character associations and direct and indirect effects, it can be inferred that days to 50% flowering, Panicle length, Peduncle length Biological yield, Harvest index and test weight could serve as important traits in any selection programme for developing high yielding foxtail millet genotypes.

Genetic Variability and Character Association Studies in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) for Grain Yield Characters

“…In the genotypic correlation (Table 5), characters such as days to 50% flowering (0.344), days to maturity (0.451), plant height (0.403), flag leaf area (0.775), peduncle length (0.351), panicle length (0.672) have shown a high significant positive correlation with the grain yield. Similar results were reported with Brunda et al [1][2][3], Ayesha et al [26], Kumawat et al [28], Pallavi et al [4].…”

“…The highest positive direct effect was shown by panicle length (0.444) and the lowest direct effect was shown by number of productive tillers (-0.0999). Similar results were reported with Brunda et al [1][2][3], Ayesha et al [26], Kumawat and Sharma [28], Pallavi et al [4].…”

“…The Foxtail millet ranks second in terms of global production [4] after finger millet among tiny millets, although this has changed recently due to high demand from health-conscious customers and its adaptability to climate-resilient cultivation. In India, foxtail millet is cultivated on 98,489 ha of land, yielding an estimated 56,327 tons of grain per hectare on average (Anonymous, 2017).…”

Genetic variability of F2 foxtail millet population derived from ICERI-5 and Botok-10 cross

“…A significant positive correlation between plant height (r=0.57**) and flowering time (0.12**) with grain weight per plant in this present study is not desirable as higher yield will be followed by taller plants and longer flowering time. A significant positive correlation between plant height and flowering time with yield was also reported in previous studies in foxtail millet (Pallavi et al 2020) and rice (Asante et al 2019;Saha et al 2019;Sadimantara et al 2021;Prathiksha et al 2022). Therefore, multiple-traits selection using a weighted selection index is necessary to perform proper selection based on desired traits and to achieve the breeding objective.…”

“…Yield (grain weight per plant) is a complex trait that is largely influenced by many associated traits. The information on the strength and direction of correlation among traits to yield (grain weight per plant) would be useful in designing foxtail millet breeding program in particular for yield improvement (Pallavi et al 2020). The correlation analysis showed that a significant and positive correlation in the yield components was observed in the number of productive tillers (r = 0.30**), number of panicles per plant (r = 0.30**), and panicle weight per plant (r = 0.99**).…”