Correlation studies between yield and its component traits in amaranthus genotypes

Eighteen diverse amaranthus (Amaranthus spp. L.) genotypes collected across various sources were evaluated for correlation between yield (grain and leaf) and their component traits. Association of grain yield with plant height, number of nodes/plant, inter-nodal length, days to 50% flowering, inflorescence length, inflorescence weight, days to grain harvest, and leaf yield with that of plant height, stem thickness, number of leaves/plant, leaf weight/plant, stem weight/plant, leaf: stem and days to vegetative maturity were elucidated. Highlighting leaf yield per plant had a positive and significant correlation with stem weight/plant, leaf: stem, plant height and days to vegetative maturity. Grain yield had a positive significant correlation with inflorescence weight, inter-nodal length and a non-significant negative correlation with the inflorescence length, days to harvest and days to 50% flowering. In conclusion, the selection of amaranthus genotypes for improvement of dual-purpose lines should concentrate on the direct selection of genotypes with good stem weight/plant, leaf: stem, plant height and days to vegetative maturity for increased leaf yield and for grain yield. The selection pressure should be towards inflorescence weight and inter-nodal length, and also negative selection should be put forth on inflorescence length, days to harvest and days to 50% cent flowering.