Path-Coefficient Analysis in Chewing Tobacco

Thirty eight strains of chewing tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were studied for genotypic and phenotyple correlations and path-coefficient analysis. The total cured and first grade leaf yields were positively correlated with leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf puckering score, leaf spangling score, and days to maturity, and negatively with plant height and Internodal length. Path-coefficient analysis showed that leaf length had the highest positive direct effect on both kinds of yield, followed by days to maturity and leaf puckering score. It was concluded that improvements in total cured leaf yield in chewing tobacco is possible through selection for leaf length and for first grade yield through leaf length and leaf puckering score.