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The present research was conducted to examine different parameters of variability, correlations, and path coefficients associated with yield and yield-related traits in aerobic rice. The analysis of variance indicated noteworthy variations among the genotypes for all the traits investigated. Among them, flag leaf area and alkali spreading value showed high PCV and GCV. Except for days to fifty per cent flowering, days to maturity, and amylose content, the remaining traits demonstrated substantial heritability combined with high genetic advance as percentage of mean. The correlation analysis revealed significant positive association between grain yield per plant and several traits, namely effective tillers per plant, test weight, chlorophyll content, and length breadth ratio. Traits such as test weight, effective tillers per plant, and flag leaf area showed a positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. Therefore, it is crucial to give priority to traits that exhibit significant positive correlations and substantial direct effects during selection process. This approach will yield rewarding results in the development of high-yielding cultivars suitable for aerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixty different varieties of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) were evaluated for character association. The findings showed that the genotypic correlation was higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficient for most traits. Strong positive correlation was observed between the number of fruits per plant, branches per plant, and fruit yield per plant. Positive correlation was observed between moisture content and fruit characteristics, such as fruit volume and average fruit weight. The path coefficient analysis revealed that high positive direct effect on fruit yield was exerted by fruits per plant, followed by moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out during Kharif 2020 at wetland farm of Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, Tirupati using 30 inbred lines of maize to assess the trait association for 16 yield and yield attributes. It revealed that ear length, number of kernels per row, plant height, ear girth, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, 100 kernel weight, number of kernel rows per ear, specific leaf area, harvest index and tassel length had notable positive correlation with kernel yield per plant suggesting that selecting these characters simultaneously lead to an increase in kernel yield per plant. Path analysis revealed a significant and positive direct influence of ear length on the kernel yield per plant. Hence, ear length could be considered during selection in maize for improving kernel yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to assess character association and genetic diversity among green gram genotypes. The results of correlation coefficient analysis revealed a significantly positive correlation for the traits viz., plant height, number of primary branches, number of clusters per plant, pod length, and number of seeds per pod with single plant yield. The path analysis revealed that the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and hundred seed weight had the highest positive direct contribution to single plant yield. Pod length showed a low indirect contribution to the total variance and all other traits showed a negative contribution to total variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourty-eight ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal] genotypes were studied for the genetic variability, heritability and trait association during 2018-19 based on 13 yield and quality traits. For all the 13 characters studied, highly significant (P < 0.01) differences were observed. Parameters such as withanolides, dry root yield per plant and crude fibre recorded higher estimates for GCV and PCV. High broad sense heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of primary and secondary branches, number of berries, root length, number of secondary roots, fresh and dry root yield, starch, crude fibre and withanolides. These proved to be promising traits that would respond to selection of better genotypes owing to their high transmissibility and genetic variability. Character association study indicated that dry root yield had positive and significant association with the number of primary and secondary roots, fresh root yield and withanolides at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path analysis revealed that number of secondary roots and withanolides were major traits having high positive, direct effect and significant association with dry root yield. Hence, these traits would be quite effective when selected to improve dry root yield in ashwagandha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the genetic variability, character association and path coefficient for various quantitative traits in fifty rice genotypes comprising of landraces and varieties under water limited conditions. Drought being a major abiotic stress causes severe reduction in grain yield especially during reproductive stages. The results revealed the presence of high genetic variability and significance for all the traits studied. The traits like single plant yield, number of filled spikelets per panicle, number of productive tillers per plant, flag leaf length, leaf rolling and leaf drying showed high variability compared to all other traits. The traits viz., spikelet fertility, number of productive tillers per plant, number of total tillers per plant, plant height, flag leaf breadth, panicle length, number of filled spikelets per panicle and relative water content exhibited a significant and positive correlation and direct effect on single plant yield, suggesting the potential importance of these traits in the improvement and selection of stable and high-yielding rice genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower production can be increased by exploring genetic variability present in the population. The nature of relationship between yield and its associated traits should be clearly understood to achieve parallel improvement of yield by indirect selection of beneficial traits. In the present study, 50 sunflower accessions along with five checks were evaluated for nine biometrical traits viz. days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, hundred seed weight, volume weight, hull content, oil content and single plant yield to assess the variability and character association. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant variation among the genotypes for all the traits under consideration. Phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation values were high for hundred seed weight and single plant yield. High heritability along with high genetic advance was observed for the traits viz. days to 50% flowering, plant height, head diameter, volume weight, oil content, hundred seed weight and single plant yield. Correlation studies revealed the presence of a positive and significant correlation between single plant yield and the traits head diameter and hundred seed weight. Similarly, oil content exhibited a positive and significant correlation with head diameter and volume weight. Path analysis also indicated the presence of high and moderate positive direct effect of head diameter and hundred seed weight on single plant yield. Based on the above, head diameter and hundred seed weight could be used as selection indices for yield improvement in sunflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was undertaken to study the variability, trait association and principle component analysis among eighteen characters in 53 rice genotypes including landraces and cultivars. Higher estimates of GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and GAM were observed for a number of filled grains per panicle followed by a number of spikelets per panicle and single plant yield indicated that these traits could be utilised for selection in rice improvement. Study of association of yield attributing traits revealed that the single plant yield had a significant positive association with the total number of spikelets per plant, number of filled grains per plant and number of primary branches per plant and had a significant negative association with the length of the primary branches. Hence, direct selection of positively associated characters can improve the grain yield and increased primary branch length reduces the number of primary and secondary branches that might lead to a reduction in yield. Path coefficient analysis showed that the number of spikelets per panicle, primary branches per plant and length of secondary branches had a positive direct effect on yield. Therefore, giving weightage during selection to the above the mentioned traits could improve the yield and yield attributes. The principal component analysis showed that out of 18 traits studied, only eight principal components (PCs) had Eigen values greater than 1.00 and accounted for approximately 80.18% of the total cumulative variability. Single plant yield, number of fertile spikelets and total number of spikelets per plant and number of tillers showed maximum vector length confirming that the maximum contribution to the total diversity and the genotypes with the above characters could be utilized as donors to improve the yield and its attributing traits in future breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken in 110 mung bean genotypes in alpha lattice design in two replications to estimate the correlation coefficients, direct and indirect effects of various yield contributing traits on grain yield for 18 quantitative traits and nine screening traits against bruchids. The correlation coefficient analysis revealed that single plant yield showed high significant positive correlation with number of pods per plant, followed by number of clusters per plant and hundred seed weight. Path analysis showed that days to 50 per cent flowering and number of pods per plant showed high positive direct effect on single plant yield. The bruchid bioassay resulted in the identification of 12 genotypes with complete resistance to bruchids and all the characters showed high significant positive correlation with each other except for number of eggs laid. Hence, the resistant genotypes identified in this study can be used in resistance breeding programme for bruchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was focused on evaluating the F3 population of VBN 11 x LBG 17 based on 10 yield components and the per cent disease index (PDI) for powdery mildew. Variability, correlation, and path analyses were performed to examine the data. The F3 population exhibited a wide range of variation for both yield components and PDI. Notably, the number of branches per plant, PDI, and seed yield per plant (g) showed high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. Furthermore, PDI alone displayed high heritability along with a high genetic advance as a percentage of mean. Moderate heritability and high genetic advance as a percentage of mean were observed for plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, total number of pods per plant, and seed yield per plant (g). These findings suggest that these traits are influenced by additive gene action and are suitable for effective selection. Correlation analysis revealed that all traits, except PDI and 100-seed weight, were significantly associated with seed yield per plant (g). Path analysis indicated that the total number of pods per plant had a substantial direct effect. Consequently, the total number of pods per plant can serve as a selection index for yield improvement programs. Notably, PDI exhibited no association with seed yield per plant (g), suggesting that resistant genotypes can be developed without any adverse correlation among yield components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to understand the genetic variability and trait association in a set of 30 naturally coloured cotton hybrids along with their parents (five colour cotton and six white cotton parents). The Analysis of Variance revealed the significance of the mean square for most of the traits studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was more than that of the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. High PCV and GCV were recorded for the traits number of monopodia and single plant yield. The heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean (GAM) were high for the traits plant height, number of monopodia, number of bolls per plant, single boll weight, bundle strength, fibre fineness and single plant yield. The Number of sympodia, number of bolls per plant and boll weight were observed to have significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation with single plant yield, while upper half mean length was observed to have significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation with bundle strength and fibreelongation. Path analysis revealed that seed index and ginning out turn recorded very high direct effect with single plant yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.) is one of the neglected crops which is becoming popular as nutri-cereal. Development of high yielding stable cultivars may offer better economic return from this crop. Assessment of interrelationship among important economic traits helps to identify major yield component traits which could be selected for overall yield improvement hence development of superior genotypes. In this context, 50 genotypes of little millet were evaluated during kharif 2021, to identify important yield component traits through correlation and path analysis of 16 quantitative traits. Estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were found to be higher than the estimates of phenotypic correlation coefficients, indicating that association were majorly under genetic control. It was revealed that direct selection based on fodder yield per plant, plant height and 1000 seed weight may help in augmenting grain yield in the experimental material, whereas, harvest index came out as the most important character for indirect selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to assess the genetic variability and association among yield attributing traits in 60 different safflower genotypes over six environments. The pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that all attributes had a considerable degree of variation. The pooled analysis of variability parameters revealed that the phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV)for all of the characteristics evaluated, indicating that experimental variance contributed to total variation. Petal yield/plant and seed yield/plant had the highest PCV and GCV followed by number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitula, height of insertion of first branch, hundred seed weight, number of primary branches/plant, length of longest primary branches, number of secondary branches and height up to main capitula. Number of capitula/plant, seed yield/plant, petal yield/plant, height of insertion of first branch, number of seeds per capitula, hundred seed weight, number of primary branches/plant, length of the longest primary branches, number of secondary branches, height upto main capitula, capitulum diameter and plant height all had high heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean. Seedyield/plant showed positive, significant and directcorrelation with number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitulum, height up to the main capitulum, plant height, number of primary branches/plant, capitulum diameter, and hundred seed weight. Number of capitula/planthad the maximum direct effect on grain yield/plant followed by number of seeds/capitulum, hundred seed weight and petal yield/plant. Hence selection of these traits would improve seed and petal yield in safflower breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight parents and the 28 crosses of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) in two segregating generations, viz., F2 and F3 were studied for their genetic variability during the rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. Observations were recorded for six morphological characters such as plant height (cm), primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, siliquae per plant, 1000 seed weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g). The PCV was found to be greater than the GCV and the difference between them was high in all the characters in both F2 and F3 generations. Most of the characters revealed a medium range of GCV and PCV. Moderate heritability was expressed by all the characters except primary branches per plant in F3 generation. The Genetic Advance as a percentage of Mean (GAM) was higher in most characters except in plant height. The character plant height was found to be positively correlated with seed yield per plant in both F2 and F3 generations, with secondary branches per plant in the F3 generation and negatively correlated with primary branches per plant in F3 generation. A high direct effect on seed yield per plant was exhibited by plant height and 1000 seed weight in both F2 and F3 generations and by Secondary branches per plant in the F2 generation and Siliquae per plant in the F3 generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-seven genotypes of coriander including six check varieties were analyzed for variability, correlation, path coefficients, and genetic divergence. Genotypes were grown in RBD with three replications and observations were recorded for 13 different quantitative traits. Secondary branches per plant and total oil content confirmed high values of GCV and PCV. Seeds per umbel, test weight, and total oil content exhibited high heritability along with high GA (% of mean). Both genotypically and phenotypically, seed yield per plant exhibited a positive and significant association with umbels per plant, umbellates per umbel, test weight, and harvest index. On seed yield per plant, umbels per plant reported the highest positive direct effect. Genetic diversity analysis grouped the 37 coriander genotypes into 6 different clusters with the maximum inter-cluster distance seen between clusters III and VI. Among the thirteen traits, test weight contributed largely to the total genetic divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to find out correlation and path analysis for 10 yield and yield attributing traits using 159 diverse pea genotypes. Correlation studies revealed that the days to 50% flowering, node at which 1st pod appears, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, pod length, pod weight and days to 1st picking had significant and positive correlation with total yield/plant while, plant height and shelling percentage were negatively correlated with total yield/plant. The inter-correlation was observed between days to 50% flowering, days to 1stpicking and node at which 1stpod appears; shelling percentage with number of seeds/pod and pod length; plant height with number of pods/plant and days to 1st picking. It is concluded that there is positive and intercorrelation of total yield/plant with the number of pods/plant, pod length, number of seeds/pod, days to 50% flowering, days to 1stpicking. The positive association suggested that selection should be oriented towards more number of pods per plant, pod length, more number of seeds per pod which would consequently leads to higher pod yield per plant. The Path analysis studies revealed that the number of pods per plant exhibit highest positive effect on yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty two genotypes of Indian bean were examined for the genetic variability parameters and trait correlation for 11 yield contributing traits in F5 progenies. Analysis revealed that these genotypes had a considerable level of diversity. The magnitude of GCV and PCV was high for seed yield per plant, which indicated the potential for selection based genetic enhancement. The GCV and PCV values were moderate for pod weight, pods width and pod length. High heritability along with high genetic advance as per cent mean was recorded for pod width, pod length, pod weight and seed yield per plant. The seed yield per plant had a significant positive correlation with pod weight, plant height, pod length, pod width and seeds per pod. The overall genotypic path analysis revealed that racemes per plant exhibited the highest positive direct effects on seed yield per plant followed by direct effects of pod length, pods per raceme, pod width and pod weight. Therefore, simple selection is advised for pod length, pod width and pod weight to boost the yield of the Indian bean. Based on mean values, the progenies W-19-26, W-19-22 and W-19-25 of GNIB-21 × GP-167 among all crosses had shown significantly higher seed yield over the check varieties GNIB-21 and GNIB-22 and hence identified as elite genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds, growth rates and duration of growth influence plant development. However, we lack a mechanistic understanding of how they lead to larger and higher‐yielding plants, as these traits have not yet been explicitly studied in combination and across ontogeny. Seed size and growth dynamics have evolved differently during domestication and improvement. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the relationships between these traits and their contribution to plant size and yield have also changed over the course of crop evolution.Here we grew wild, landrace and improved accessions of 18 annual herbaceous crops in a glasshouse. For each plant, we measured seed mass, growth rate and duration of vegetative growth. We also measured plant size at three ontogenetic stages: seedling, juvenile and mature, and reproductive output. Using path analyses, we tested causal relationships between the traits and quantified their relative importance in determining mature plant size and yield.Seed mass and duration of vegetative growth were more important than growth rates in explaining variations in mature plant size and yield among species. Domesticated plants were larger, had heavier seeds and higher yields, but did not grow faster or for longer time‐spans than their wild progenitors. Trait relationships did not differ between the wild, landrace and improved accessions.Our results suggest that annual herbs reach larger sizes primarily through a combination of heavier seeds and longer vegetative growth periods. Moreover, domestication has increased plant size only through the heavy‐seed causal pathway, via cascading effects during ontogeny. However, the high yields of modern crops hardly be explained by the traits considered here, suggesting the importance of other drivers, such as roots and their microbiome.Synthesis. We provide a better mechanistic understanding of the size axis of global plant trait variation and emphasise the role of growth duration in explaining the diversity of mature plant sizes. Seeds and growth dynamics are highly functionally coordinated with plant size, and this coordination has changed little during crop evolution. Our results highlight that multi‐trait relationships throughout plant ontogeny play a key role in governing how domestication has influenced plant size and crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two crosses in F3 generation were studied for their variability, correlation and path analysis. The cross VRI 8 × K6 had better mean performance in all traits with very good pod and kernel yield per plant with mean of 36.59 g and 22.56 g, respectively compared to that of BSR 2 × K 6 with mean pod and kernel yield per plant of 24.95 g and 15.59 g, respectively. The cross also had high heritability of pod yield (79.45 %) and kernel yield (82.83 %) with low and moderate GAM for pod (8.87 %) and kernel yield (10.19 %), respectively. Though the crosses were in early generations, the PCV and GCV values were low to moderate for both crosses expect for the kernel yield (27.70 % & 26.71 %) in BSR 2 × K 6 and pod yield in both the crosses (23.67 % & 21.24 % in BSR 2 × K 6 and 23.73 % & 21.16 % in VRI 8 × K 6, respectively) with higher PCV, GCV values. In correlation analysis, there was a highly significant positive correlation between kernel yield and number of matured pods, number of pods, 100 pod weight, 100 kernel weight, pod yield and shelling percentage in both the crosses. Highly significant correlation was observed between shelling percentage and days to flowering in VRI 8 × K 6. Similarly, in BSR 2 × K 6, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight were highly significantly correlated. Path analysis revealed that, there was a high positive direct effect on kernel yield by 100 kernel weight and pod yield in both the crosses. Shelling percentage in VRI 8 × K 6 had a negligible positive direct effect on the yield. Thus, on the basis of correlation and path analysis, 100 kernel weight, number of matured pods, shelling percentage, pod yield per plant were proved to be the outstanding characters influencing kernel yield in groundnut and need to be given importance in selection to achieve higher kernel yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the variability and performance of thirty horsegram genotypes collected from various regions of Kerala and outside for yield and yield attributing characters. Analysis of variance was carried out based on the recorded observations, and it showed significant differences among the 30 genotypes for all the fifteen characters studied. Most of the traits exhibited narrow differences between PCV and GCV except for seeds per pod, the number of primary branches per plant and yield per plant. Yield per plant was found to be significant and positively correlated to primary and the number of secondary branches per plant, nodes per plant, pod number per plant, seeds per pod and 100 seed weight both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Path analysis revealed that pod number per plant, seeds per pod, nodes per plant, 100 seed weight and days to maturity were the major yield contributing characters owing to their favorable direct effect on yield per plant. Genetic diversity studies using Mahalanobis' D² statistics assembled the 30 genotypes into eight clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted with 39 rice genotypes to screen for salt tolerance and evaluate potential variation among the genotypes under sodic conditions. All the 39 rice genotypes along with two check varieties (TRY2 & TRY5) were screened in vitro for salt tolerance by imposing 100 mM NaHCO3 at the seedling stage under hydroponics and a salt injury score was given based on morphological symptoms. Observations on 12 biometrical traits were recorded under field sodic conditions and subjected to variability analysis. The ANOVA revealed that there was a significant difference for the 11 traits among the genotypes except for flag leaf breadth. Among the genotypes, the highest single plant yield was recorded by RG 50 (36.83 g). A correlation study revealed that, single plant yield exhibited significant and positive genotypic and phenotypic relation with panicle harvest index, the number of grains per panicle and panicle length. Path analysis showed that the traits viz., panicle harvest index, plant height and panicle length had a very high and positive direct effect on single plant yield. The traits viz., flag leaf breadth, SPAD meter reading and number of productive tillers per plant had a high and positive direct effect on single plant yield. In vitro studies revealed that the genotype RG113 was found to be highly tolerant to salt stress and it also showed a significantly higher yield (35.42 g) under field sodicity. The genotypes RG22, RG150, RG162 and RG188 which showed tolerance under in vitro screening and the moderately tolerant genotypes RG26, RG50, RG95, RG107, RG123 and RG176 were exhibiting significant yield under field sodicity conditions. Therefore, in order to breed for high yielding salt-tolerant rice varieties, the identified genotypes could be exploited as donor genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred upland cotton germplasm accessions were evaluated for eight traits to evaluate the per se performance, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance as a per cent of mean, correlation and path analysis. The estimation of variability indicated that the number of monopodia per plant had high GCV and PCV. High heritability along with high GAM was found in plant height, internode length, the number of monopodia per plant, the number of sympodia per plant, the number of bolls per plant and seed cotton yield per plant which suggested that additive gene activity had a significant influence in the inheritance of these traits. Correlation analysis showed that the number of sympodia per plant, the number of bolls per plant and boll weight have a significant high positive correlation on the seed cotton yield. Path analysis showed that the number of bolls per plant and boll weight had the highest positive direct effect on seed cotton yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection criteria is very crucial to pick up promising genotypes in a breeding program. An experiment was conducted with twenty soybean genotypes following a randomized complete block design to study the inheritable agronomic traits, their interrelation and partitioning of genotypic correlation into direct and indirect effects to identify the traits responsible for higher seed yield. Results indicated that phenotypic variance was higher than that of genotypic variance for all the characters. The highest PCV was found for the trait seed yield per plant (39.03%) followed by yield per plot (32.85%). The higher GCV was also found for the same traits-seed yield per plant (37.36%), yield per plot (27.23%). PCV and GCV was the lowest for trait days to maturity (6.28%, 4.16%) and days to flowering (3.20%, 2.24%). Estimated broad sense heritability was ranged from days to flowering (44.05%) to seed yield per plant (91.62%). Higher estimate of heritability was also observed for yield per plot (88.65%) followed by hundred seed weight (85.39%) whereas; heritability was moderate for plant height (76.75%) and pod per plant (70.17%). The genetic advance was the highest for plant height (19.39%). On the other hand, primary branch per plant, days to flowering and days to maturity showed low heritability with low GA depicts the influence of non-additive gene effect. Pod per plant, hundred seed weight, days to maturity and plant height is positively and significantly correlated with yield. Pod per plant (0.908) and hundred seed weight (0.907) showed highest direct positive effect on seed yield at genotypic level. Path analysis also confirmed highest positive direct effect of hundred seed weight (0.701). So, the present study suggests that, higher hundred seed weight and pod per plant can be effective selection measure for improvement of soybean yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to figure out genetic variability, correlation and path co-coefficients for seven traits in 42 F3 families of the cross Azucena/CB 87R*1 aimed for developing new restorer lines with indica tropical japonica background for their utilization in a hybrid program. The population exhibited high PCV and GCV for the traits viz., the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle weight and single plant yield. For the same traits, high heritability combined with high GAM was also deduced. The traits panicle weight, the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length, flag leaf length and flag leaf width showed positive and significant associations with single plant yield. Though the traits panicle weight and the number of productive tillers were negatively correlated, they both exerted a high direct effect on single plant yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two BC1 F2 populations derived from the cross CO 52 x 3-11-11-2 were evaluated in the present study for fifteen yields, yield contributing characters and quality characters to assess genetic variability, correlation coefficient and path coefficient analyses. Single plant yield, number of productive tillers per plant and alkali spreading value all had higher estimates of PCV and GCV. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of mean was observed for traits viz., volume expansion ratio, single plant yield and plant height. In both the backcross population, a high positive correlation was observed between single plant yield and the traits such as the number of productive tillers and days to first flowering. In the case of direct effects, the number of productive tillers and kernel length after cooking played almost higher positive effects in the backcross population I, while in the population II, the number of productive tillers, kernel breadth before cooking, kernel length after cooking and breadthwise elongation ratio ensured the highest direct effect over the single plant yield. Thus, the number of productive tillers per plant can be considered as a key trait in the selection process and can be strategically used for yield improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The F3 population of 22 wheat genotypes for 14 traits was evaluated at Agriculture Research Farm, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, during rabi, 2020-21. ANOVA revealed highly significant variation among all the traits studied. According to GCV and PCV grain yield per plant, harvest index, ear weight, test-weight, the number of productive tillers per plant and the number of grains per ear were found to be high (>20). High heritability (>60) and GA% (>20) of mean were observed for grain yield per plant, biological yield per plant, test-weight, the number of ears per plant, the number of productive tillers per plant, the number of grains per ear, the number of spikelets per ear, ear weight, harvest index. The number of productive tillers per plant, biological yield per plant and harvest index exhibited a significant positive correlation and path direct with grain yield per plant. Thus, the above mentioned traits are additive genetic control and direct selection in wheat has good potential for improvement in grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out to determine the genetic variability parameters and character associations for eleven quantitative traits in Indian bean genotypes. It revealed a significant amount of variability present among these genotypes. Seed yield per plant had high Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values, showing the potential for improvement by selection. Racemes per plant, pods per raceme, pods per plant, and pod weight had moderate GCV and PCV values. There was high heritability combined with a high genetic advance for pod weight and seed yield per plant. Plant height, pods per plant, and pod weight were significantly and positively associated with seed yield per plant. Pods per plant had the most positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, followed by racemes per plant, plant height, pod weight, pod length, and seeds per pod. Therefore, selection for such traits is advised to bring about improvement in Indian beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current experiment consisting of 19 elite safflower genotypes along with three checks (A-1, PBNS-12 and DSH 185) were sown in randomized block design in three replications. Genotypic correlation studies established a positive association between the number of capitulum per plant, the number of seeds per plant, the weight of 100 seeds per plant and the seed yield per plant. As a result, selecting genotypes based on these traits may help to enhance seed yield. Days to maturity and the number of seeds per capitulum had a positive association with oil content, indicating that delayed maturity contributed to enhance oil content. Similarly, the number of seeds/capitulum contributed to improve the oil content. Days to 50% flowering, number of capitulum /plant, number of seeds /capitulum, 100 seed weight and oil percentage appeared to have the most direct effects on seed yield. Oil content per plant had a significant effect on traits such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, and 100 seed weight, whereas seed yield had a negative direct effect towards oil content. The path analysis results showed that increased rosette period helped plants establishing good root system at an early stage of growth, delayed days to 50% flowering and maturity strongly affecting the source and sink, which converted into the number of capitulum per plant and 100 seed weight. These characters showed a positive relationship as well as direct effects on seed yield and oil content. As a result, a plant with delayed maturity (130-135 days), medium plant height (110cm), 30-35 seeds per capitulum, 100 seed weight (4.5-5 g) and oil content (32-33 %) would be considered as the model plant type for late sown irrigated conditions in Chhattisgarh plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 110 mutants derived from two horsegram varieties PAIYUR 2 and CRIDA 1-18 R through 32 mutagenic combinations were evaluated during rabi,2020 to ascertain the breeding value. The analyses like trait dependence, character interrelationship, and nature of gene action were done by utilizing data on 11 yield attributing quantitative traits. Yield per plant recorded a highly significant positive association with the number of primary branches per plant (0.895), plant height (0.705), the number of pods per plant (0.703), days to maturity (0.568), the number of pods per cluster (0.444), the number of clusters per plant (0.332), the number of seeds per pod (0.299), and days to 50% flowering (0.207). The character number of pods per plant (0.699), days to 50% flowering (0.550), plant height (0.425), the number of seeds per pod (0.377), the number of primary branches per plant (0.286), 100-seed weight (0.271) and days to maturity (0.175) recorded the highest positive direct effect on yield per plant. Based on the estimates of coefficients of skewness and kurtosis, it is ascertained that the traits number of clusters per plant (0.81), the number of primary branches per plant (0.96), and the number of pods per plant (0.55) are governed by complementary gene action. This gene action suggests further intense selection for genetic gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in a set of germplasm accessions for yield related traits in Chia. Results of the correlation coefficient revealed a highly significant and positive effect of the number of primary branches, harvest index and oil content on seed yield per plant on both genotypic and phenotypic levels, while plant height had a positive significant correlation with seed yield only at the genotypic level. Through analysis of path coefficients, the positive and significant direct effect of harvest index on genotypic as well as phenotypic levels was inferred, whilst days to 50% flowering and plant height illustrated positive direct effects on seed yield per plant only at the genotypic level. Moderate direct and positive effects of days to maturity at the genotypic level along with the number of primary branches at the phenotypic level were observed on seed yield per plant. The study revealed that harvesting index, days to 50% flowering and fruiting branches could be used as selection criteria traits, which will be very useful in future breeding programmes to enhance yield in Chia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is one of the highly consumed legumes and has the ability to withstand wide environmental conditions. Sixty greengram genotypes were evaluated for genetic relatedness with 11 quantitative traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, the number of primary branches per plant, the number of clusters per plant, the number of pods per cluster, the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, pod length, hundred seed weight and single plant yield. The data were subjected to variability, genetic advance, heritability, correlation and path analysis. In this study, the phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation was found to be high for the number of clusters per pod and the number of pods per plant. High heritability was noticed for single plant yield, plant height and hundred seed weight. The genetic advance was found to be very high for the number of pods per plant. Association studies revealed that the single plant yield was significantly correlated with the number of pods per plant (0.75) followed by the number of pods per cluster (0.60), the number of clusters per plant (0.58) and the number of seeds per pod (0.49). The direct and positive effect was recorded for the traits viz., days to maturity (1.44), the number of pods per cluster (0.67), pod length (0.46) and plant height (0.24). Phenotypic selection of traits contributing to grain yield exhibiting high heritability and genetic advance would help in the selection of superior genotypes for the improvement of grain yield in greengram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted for evaluating EMS induced mutants for sodicity tolerance in rice. A set of 402 Nagina 22 rice mutants along with three sodicity tolerant check varieties namely TRY2, TRY3 and TRY4 were screened at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy under sodic soil condition and also screened under hydroponics condition at the seedling stage. A total of 13 biometrical traits and salt injury scores were recorded and subjected to association analysis and path analysis. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant and positive correlation observed for flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth, the number of total tillers per plant, the number of productive tillers for the plant, tillering efficiency percentage, panicle length, panicle weight, panicle harvest index and hundred seed weight and also showed significant and negative correlation for salt injury index and vegetative vigour. Both the scores at the field (vegetative vigour) and salt injury score showed a negative correlation with single plant yield. Path analysis revealed a high positive direct effect on the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle weight, hundred seed weight and panicle length and the remaining traits showed negligible effects on single plant yield. As a result, enhancing the correlating trait as well as reducing the effect of negative correlating trait leads to the development of better tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted at sodic soils to determine the relationship and degree of direct and indirect effects of yield and yield contributing traits in 57 cowpea accessions along with checks CO (CP) 7, VBN 1 and VBN 3. The association analysis showed that clusters number per plant, pod numbers per cluster, length of the pod, seeds per pod and hundred seed weight were positively correlated with seed yield. Path analysis indicated that the number of clusters per plant revealed a highly positive direct effect on single plant yield at genotypic level followed by pod length, pods number per cluster and seeds per pod. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed first four PCs together contributed 67.33 per cent of variability. A total of 12 genotypes occupied the first quadrant showed better performance for five characters namely 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant, the number of clusters per plant, the number of pods per cluster and plant height. These selected genotypes namely IC 201075, EC 101989, EC 724750, EC 725166, CO 7, EC 724707, EC 121879, EC 101940, EC 101913, EC 724767, EC 107181 and EC 101928 could be used as donors or elite genotypes in cowpea yield improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen cluster bean genotypes including the parent MDU 1 and fourteen determinate M5 generation cluster bean mutants were evaluated to determine the correlation and path analysis among yield and yield attributing characters. The genotypic correlation coefficient was observed to be higher in magnitude than the phenotypic correlation coefficient for most of the characters studied. The correlation analysis indicated the positive association of pod yield per plant with plant height, number of clusters per plant, total number of pods per plant, pod length, pod girth, pod weight, days to last harvest and number of seeds per plant. The path coefficient analysis indicated that the number of clusters per plant exhibited a very high positive direct effect on pod yield per plant at the genotypic level. ACMC-020-10 was identified as the best determinate mutant of MDU 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research was aimed for estimation of variability parameters, heritability, genetic advance, skewness, kurtosis, association and path coefficient analysis for twelve traits using F2 population attained from the cross ADT (R) 48 x Kavuni. High GCV and PCV, higher range of heritability adjoined with eminent genetic advance as per cent of mean besides significant positive skewness for the characters namely; the number of tillers per plant, the number of productive tillers per plant, the number of grains per panicle, the number of filled grains per panicle and single plant yield was observed indicating the predominance of cumulative gene effect and an effective selection. High positive direct impact with strong positive correlation on single plant yield was observed in the traits, the number of tillers per plant and the number of filled grains per panicle perhaps to be considered as useful traits in yield improvement. The information obtained from the current study may be advantageous in the selection and for the advancement of yield in future rice breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is a universal crop grown for its diversified end uses. A total of 250 plants of F2 generation were evaluated for nine quantitative characters of cross made between Paiyur 2 and Kottathur local 5. The minimum difference was observed between the phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits which reveals that the effect of environment was minimum on the expression of the character. High PCV was observed for plant height (20.36%), test weight (23.59%), and single plant yield (44.52%). Low PCV was observed for days to fifty percent flowering (9.80%), days to maturity (6.54%) and number of leaves (7.14%). High heritability accompanied with genetic advance was observed for plant height (h²=99.03%; GAPM=41.55%), leaf length (h²=97.87%; GAPM=23.70%), stem diameter (h²=94.49%; GAPM=27.36%), test weight (h²=99.03%; GAPM=48.13%), and single plant yield (h²=99.57%; GAPM=91.33%) and it indicates that the characters are under the additive gene action and suitable for the selection process. Plant height (0.6115) recorded positive significant correlation with single plant yield and hence selection towards the plant height directly improves the yield. Plant height (0.6132) and test weight (0.297) showed positive direct effect on single plant yield which indicates that the selection towards these characters will improve the yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variability parameters, correlation and path coefficient analysis for eight yield related traits in segregating F2 population of an aerobic restorer AR 9-18 × YPK 198 (Donor for yield enhancing genes Gn1a and OsSPL14) at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad during the kharif, 2019. The results indicated that, productive tiller number, grain number per panicle and plant yield showed high PCV and GCV. Height of plant, productive tiller number, grain number per panicle and plant yield exhibited a high heritability and also high genetic advance as per cent of mean which indicates simple selection would be effective for enhancement of these traits. Correlation studies indicated that plant yield was associated significantly positive with height of plant, productive tiller number, length of panicle and grain number per panicle. High positive direct effect on plant yield was recorded by productive tiller number, grain number per panicle and height of plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial in this study was carried out in field conditions throughout three years from plots where seed production of sunflower parental lines was established. Eight genotypes were examined; namely RHA-UK, RHA-ST-59, RHA-SES-IMI, RHA-SNRF, RHA-E-ANN-65, RHA-RU-3, RHA-CDN, and RHA-N-M-1. All the examined genotypes are parental components of the best sunflower hybrids developed by the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Relationships between seed yield and eight different traits in sunflower were studied - oil and protein content, seed germination, 1000-seed weight, head diameter, number of branches and leaves and plant height. The same analyses were carried out for comparison of oil content. A highly significant positive correlation was determined between plant height and number of branches; plant height and the number of leaves; plant height and head diameter; plant height and seed yield; number of branches and yield; the number of leaves and yield; head diameter and seed yield; number of leaves and number of branches; number of leaves and head diameter and between seed germination and oil content. Path analysis indicated highest significant direct effect of plant height on yield (0.439**). The number of branches had a significant positive direct effect on yield (0.260*). In the study of indirect effects on yield, thirteen significant effects were determined. The study of direct effects on oil content showed that the plant height and number of leaves diameter had high significant effects (0.800** and -0.847**). The existence of indirect significant effects on oil content was determined in nine cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment on correlation and path analysis involving thirty F1 and six parents of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) was carried during rabi, 2018 at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The genotypic correlation coefficient was higher in magnitude than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficient for most of the characters. The fruit yield per plant had exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation with fruit length (0.837) and the number of fruits per plant (0.716). The genetic improvement of fruit yield thus can be obtained by selection for these yield components. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the characters viz., the number of fruits per plant (0.962), days to first harvest (0.922) and fruit girth (0.616) had a high positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant. Thus, the fruit yield per plant can be improved by making the selection of these traits in the yield improvement programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was consisted of 100 urdbean genotypes grown at two locations i.e. at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and its Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur during Summer, 2019. In principal component analysis, first four PCs possessed Eigen value more than 1 and revealed 73.29% and 66.43 % variability at Ludhiana and Gurdaspur respectively. PCA analysis suggested the importance of biological yield per plant, plant height, days to 50% flowering, harvest index, yield per plant and pods per plant to speed up the urdbean improvement. The correlation studies suggested significantly positive association of clusters per plant, pods per plant, biological yield per plant and harvest index with grain yield per plant at both locations. Path analysis indicated that harvest index, biological yield per plant, nodes per plant, branches per plant showed the higher and positive direct effect on seed yield at both locations. Direct selection of genotypes with positively correlated characters can be considered useful for increasing seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to find the correlation and path coefficient analysis of 40 genotypes of sorghum for forage and grain yield and its attributes. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications at the Sorghum Research Station, SDAU, Deesa, Gujarat during Kharif-2018. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits studied. The high values of GCV and PCV were recorded for leaf: stem ratio followed by dry fodder yield per plant, grain yield per plant, panicle length and panicle width. The genotypic path coefficient analysis revealed that leaf area, panicle width, day to maturity and 1000-grain weight exhibited high and positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. The genotypic path coefficient analysis revealed that days to flowering, leaf width, the number of leaf per plant, leaf length and panicle width exhibited high and positive direct effect on dry fodder yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken with the objective to estimate the interrelationship of characters for seed yield in early maturing genotypes of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.). The material consisted of twenty-one pigeon pea genotypes among which nineteen were early maturing genotypes received from ICRISAT (The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Hyderabad and two were local varieties collected from BNCA, AAU (Biswanath Chariali College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University), Jorhat. The experiment was conducted during kharif 2017-18 in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications at ICR farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. The estimates of genotypic correlations, in general, were found higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients indicating strong association between two characters but the phenotypic values were lessened by the influence of environment. The seed yield per plant had shown significant positive correlation with plant height, pods per plant, pod length and harvest index both at phenotypic and genotypic level. Pods per plant and pod length had shown high positive direct effects on seed yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level. At genotypic level, days to first flowering exhibited maximum positive direct effect on seed yield per plant. Pods per plant and pod length had shown high direct effects on seed yield/plant and hence direct selection for these traits may contribute towards improvement in seed yield/plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment comprising of twenty four diverse Faba bean genotypes were evaluated for genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis for pod yield and its contributing traits. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation were highest for pod yield per plant (PCV= 55.87% and GCV= 53.90%). Pod yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with plant height, number of primary branches, pod length, pod width, pod weight and number of pods per plant at genotypic level. Number of pods per plant showed the highest positive direct effect (0.845) on pod yield per plant. Days to fifty per cent flowering, days to first pod picking, plant height, number of primary branches, pod width and number of pods per plant appeared as most important characters and could be considered during selection in Faba bean breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variability, correlation, direct and indirect effects between yield and yield component traits were studied in the F2 population of MDU 6 x VGD 1 and Improved Samba Mashuri x VGD 1 for six characters. Number of filled grains per panicle and single plant yield recorded high PCV, GCV and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean in both the crosses which indicated the presence of additive gene action and selection may be effective for these traits. Number of productive tillers per plant had moderate PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean in both crosses. Number of productive tillers per plant also had significant positive correlation with maximum direct effect on single plant yield in both the crosses. This indicated that the selection for high number of productive tillers per plant will bring concurrent improvement in yield as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in the F2 population of the cross OMT 21 A x JLSC 96 of sesame with the objective to assess the genetic variability, character association of yield and yield related traits in sesame. Experimental materials were raised during Kharif season of 2019 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Seven biometrical traits viz., days to first flowering, plant height, the number of branches per plant, the number of capsules per plant, the number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight and yield per plant were recorded. The magnitude of PCV and GCV values were higher for the traits yield per plant, the number of branches per plant and the number of capsules per plant. The traits number of branches per plant and 1000 seed weight exhibited a high heritability along with a high genetic advance as per cent of mean. Yield per plant had a significant positive correlation with the number of capsules per plant followed by 1000 seed weight, plant height and the number of branches per plant. Path analysis revealed that the number of capsules per plant had a high positive direct effect on yield per plant. So, the selection based on these traits such as number of capsules per plant, plant height, 1000 seed weight and the number of branches per plant would be advantageous for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to estimate the genetic parameters such as variability, heritability, genetic advance, character association and path analysis for twelve quantitative characters in 50 genotypes of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. The GCV for all the characters studied was less than the PCV indicating the interaction of genotype with the environment. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for the number of primary branches per plant, seed yield per plant, plant height, the number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and days to 50 per cent flowering. Character association studies revealed that the number of pods per plant, the number of clusters per plant, the number of seeds per pod, the number of primary branches per plant, plant height, days to maturity, pod length and 100 seed weight showed a positive and significant correlation with seed yield per plant. Path analysis revealed that the number of pods per plant had a high positive and direct effect on seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-one accessions of Oryza glaberrima were evaluated to study variability, correlation and path analysis for yield and yield attributing traits. Three checks namely, BPT 5204, IR 64 and Swarna for were utilized for comparison of variability parameters. High range of variation, PCV, GCV and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for days to 50 per cent flowering and the number of spikelets per panicle. Correlation revealed that the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length, spikelets per panicle, 1000 seed weight, kernel length, and L/B ratio showed a positive association with grain yield. However, days to 50% flowering, plant height and kernel breadth were found to be negatively correlated. Path analysis identified L/B ratio, panicle length and kernel breadth, which had the maximum direct positive effect on grain yield, while, L/B ratio via kernel length and days to 50% flowering via 1000 seed weight exhibited high positive indirect effects on grain yield per plant. Therefore, the selection of accessions with more panicle length and early maturity would be most suitable for selection in yield improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out using 40 mutants along with two check varieties CO(Kv)2 and MDU1 during Kharif 2019. Sixteen characters were studied and out of which only 11 traits showed significant variation. Correlation and path analysis were done for 11 traits viz., number of basal tillers, days to fifty percent flowering, flag leaf length, panicle length, plant height, number of raceme, number of productive tillers, number of leaves in main tiller, average leaves in side tiller, single ear head weight and single plant yield. Among the eleven biometrical traits, high heritability was recorded by traits such as number of basal tillers, days to fifty percent flowering, flag leaf length, plant height, number of racemes, number of productive tillers, number of leaves in main tiller, single ear head weight and single plant yield. Correlation studies showed that number of productive tillers, single ear head weight and plant height possess significant positive correlation with yield at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path analysis showed that traits like number of basal tillers, single ear head weight and panicle length had high direct effect on yield. Thus, selection of these traits would be rewarding for yield improvement in barnyard millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken with 107 elite rice genotypes to study the variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for yield and yield component traits. In addition, character association between the yield and yield components and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield were also studied. High PCV and GCV were recorded for ear bearing tillers per plant, while high heritability were recorded for all the traits studied. Further, the high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for plant height, the number of ear bearing tillers per plant, the total number of grains per panicle, test weight and grain yield per plant. Among these, ear bearing tillers per plant had recorded a high variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean in addition to correlation and direct effects with grain yield per plant indicating its effectiveness as important selection criterion for the yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was conducted to estimate genetic parameters viz., genotypic coefficient variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV), heritability and genetic advance (GA) along with correlation and path coefficient analysis, from data collected from fifty eight genotypes. High GCV and PCV were observed for fruit yield per plant, number of node to first fruiting and fruit girth. High heritability coupled with high GA was observed for almost all the characters of interest. These traits could well be improved by resorting to simple selection. The Fruit yield per plant evinced positive significant phenotypic and genotypic association with plant height and average fruit weight. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of fruit per plant and average fruit weight exerted maximum positive direct effects which were equal to genetic correlation coefficient towards fruit yield per plant. Hence, number fruits per plant and average fruit weight may be good indicator traits for fruit yield improvement in okra breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]