Studies on variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis in French bean

Twenty-eight genotypes of French bean from various parts of mid-hill zone of Himachal Pradesh were evaluated to assess their genetic variability and to determine the interrelationship between seed yield and certain important agronomic characters. All the traits except pod width recorded significant positive correlation with seed yield/plant at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis indicated that pod length had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield/plant followed by number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of branches per plant, leaflet width, harvest duration, plant height at final harvest and 100 seed weight. High heritability and genetic advance of plant height at final harvest, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and seed yield/plant vis-a-vis their positive association and direct positive effect on seed yield per plant suggested for their improvement through simple selection method.