Character association and path analysis of certain quantitative characters among parental lines and their hybrids in pearl millets

The study was conducted to determine the correlation and path coefficients among the yield and yield component characters in 10 parental lines and their 45 hybrids of pearl millet. Highly significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were observed for productive tillers per plant (0.354,0.330), plant height (0.470.0.450), panicle length (0.558,0.508), panicle girth (0.377,0.343), biological yield per plant (0.598,0.471) and dry fodder yield per plant (0.490,0.425) with grain yield per plant. The path analysis indicated that dry fodder yield per plant (2.510,0.200), days to 50% flowering (1.770,0.020), harvest index (1.020,0.950), plant height (0.620,0.160) and panicle girth (0.420,0.120) had the highest direct effects on grain yield per plant at genotypic level. The dry fodder yield per plant, days to 50% flowering, harvest index, plant height and panicle girth in this study has been identified as selection criteria for obtaining good parental lines and hybrids in a pearl millet breeding program.