Analysis of relationship between yield and some yield contributing characters in few advanced lines of rapeseed (Brassica rapa) by using correlation and path analysis

The correlation co-efficient analysis and direct and indirect effect of eleven characters on yield per hectare was studied on eleven advanced lines and three popular check varieties of Brassica rapa. To study the interrelationships among the characters, the genotypic correlation co-efficient was done. It was found that yield per hectare was positively and highly significantly correlated with days to first flowering, days to 80% flowering and number of primary branches per plant which indicated that the yield would be higher by improving these characters while would be decreased with the increase of days to 50% flowering and length of siliquae as they were negatively correlated with yield. The interrelationship was clearly pictured through path co-efficient analysis. Plant height showed highest positive and highly significant direct association with the yield per hectare followed by number of primary branches per plant. Highest negative significant direct effect was found in number of siliquae per plant followed by days to maturity. The high direct effect gave the massage that selection of the traits might be effective for yield improvement. Low residual effect indicated that the considered traits of the study explained almost all the variability towards yield.