Correlation Coefficients and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Desi Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum)

Cotton is globally important crop valued for its single cell trichome called fibre. Cotton fibre is popularly called as white gold or king of fibre crops. Cotton fibre or seed cotton yield per plant is the economically important traits which is dependent other yield attributing traits and also influenced by the fibre quality traits. So present study was focused on the association of yield and yield attributing and fibre quality traits.

An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vijayapur campus during late kharif season during 2020-21 to evaluate 145 advanced breeding lines of desi cotton along with checks using augmented design in 7 blocks for yield and yield attributing traits. The material used in the study was developed by College of agriculture, Dharwad at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding. Correlation and path coefficient analysis was conducted for twelve yield and fibre quality traits.

Significant positive correlation of seed cotton yield per plant with boll weight, number of bolls per plant, ginning outturn and fibre fineness was reported, whereas negative significant correlation was reported by days to 50% flowering with seed cotton yield per plant. Path analysis revealed that highest positive direct effect on seed cotton yield per plant was shown by number of bolls per plant followed by boll weight and highest negative direct effect was shown by fibre fineness. Highest indirect effect on seed cotton yield per plant was contributed by ginning outturn. The traits that are significantly positively correlated and having positive effect on seed cotton yield play a major role in the selection of high yielding seed cotton genotypes.