Correlation and Path Analysis of Yield and its Components in Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.)

Eighteen varietal germplasm was selected for correlation and path analysis of yield and their plant and berry characters. The fruit yield per plant exhibited significant positive correlation with flower truss per plant, number of flower per plant, number of crown per plant, number of leaves per plant and fruit weight suggesting that yield can be effectively improved through selection of these components whereas, it showed non-significant negative correlation with days to 50% flowering, fruit set, fruit weight, fruit breadth, fruit volume and total sugars indicating that these characters have least significance for improving fruit yield in strawberry. The path coefficient analysis revealed that fruit length, acidity and fruit breadth showed maximum direct effect whereas fruit volume, total sugars, fruit weight and days to 50% flower had negative direct effect on strawberry yield. From present study, it can be concluded that characters like days to 50% flowering, number of flowers per plant, fruit weight, fruit volume and fruit set which exhibited appreciable direct effect on yield proved as important component of yield and the selection based on these characters may result in development of high yielding genotypes