Character association and path coefficient analysis for grain yield and yield components in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.)

An investigation was carried out to assess the character association and the magnitude of direct and indirect effects of yield component traits on grain yield of finger millet for 11 characters viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of productive tillers per plant, number of fingers per ear, finger length (cm), ear weight per plant (g), 1000-seed weight (g), seed protein content (%), seed calcium content (mg/100gm) and seed yield per plant (g). Character association studies revealed that, traits like 1000-seed weight, number of fingers per ear, ear weight per plant, finger length, days to maturity, productive tillers per plant, days to 50% flowering and plant height were found to possess significant positive association with seed yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Further, path analysis studies revealed that 1000-seed weight, number of fingers per ear, days to maturity, ear weight per plant, finger length and days to 50% flowering showed true relationship with seed yield per plant by establishing significant positive association and high positive direct effect.