Department of Plant Breeding, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Path coefficient and selection indices were studied in 40 lines of cowpea in a randomized block design with three replications at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 1967. Pods per plant, grains per pod and 100-grain weight had appreciable direct effect on grain yield. Multiple regression analysis suggested that grains per pod, 100-grain weight and pods per plant were the important yield components and together account for about 68% variation in yield. A discriminant function based on two yield components, grains per pod and 100-grain weight, and the three yield components, grains per pod, 100-grain weight and pods per plant, was found to be superior to selection for yield to the extent of 24 and 33%, respectively.
