Correlation and path analysis studies for juice yield and its associated traits in sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench]

The correlation coefficients among ten yield and yield attributing characters with their path effects towards juice yield were investigated in two F₂ populations of sweet sorghum crosses during summer 2012. These populations were derived from parents which were contrasting for the trait of interest i.e., juice yield. From association studies it was evident that the juice yield was positively associated with fresh stalk yield, total biomass, plant height, grain yield, days 50% flowering, days to maturity, nodes per plant, brix per cent and stem girth. The path analysis revealed that fresh stalk yield and total biomass in ‘296 B × URJA’ while, plant height and total biomass in ‘27 B × NSSV 13′ exhibited maximum positive direct effect on juice yield. Thus fresh stalk yield, total biomass and plant height were the traits influencing juice yield in sweet sorghum.