Path analysis for nitrogen content and seed yield in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

The present investigation was conducted during kharif, 2000 at Plant Breeding Farm, RCA, Udaipur. Experimental material comprised of ten parents and 45 hybrids (adopting half diallel) raised in RBD with three replications in two environments (first-control; second-seed treated with Rhizobium urd culture). The main objective was to estimate Path analysis for nitrogen content and seed yield in Blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper).

In context of nitrogen content of plants for hybrids, nodules dry weight per plant was most reliable components in selecting high nitrogen fixing genotypes in E₁ and pooled analysis, whereas nodules fresh weight and plant dry weight in E₂ rather than other traits, despite its high direct effect on nitrogen content of plant indicated by path analysis. Other traits had significant through their indirect effect via nodules dry weight per plant in E₁ and pooled analysis.

For parents, nitrogen content of plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight showed the significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant mainly due to its indirect effect via biological yield in E₁ and number of pods per plant in E₂ and pooled analysis, whereas biological yield was significant due to its direct effect in E₁ and indirect effect via number of pods per plant in E₂ and pooled based. While for hybrids, nitrogen content of plant exhibited significant positive correlation with seed yield through direct effect in E₁ and indirect effect via number of pods per plant in E₂ and over the environments. Likewise number of pods had significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant through direct effect in both environments as well as over the environments.