Correlation and Path Analysis Studies in Restorer Lines of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R. Br.] During Summer Season
Abstract
The seventy-seven restorer lines of pearl millet [Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R. Br.] were evaluated for nine quantitative characters during summer season 2025 with a view to study the correlation and path analysis for grain yield and its yield contributing characters. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two replications at Bajra Research Scheme, Govt. College of Agriculture, Dhule. The analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes, as indicated by the mean sum of squares for genotypes being significant for all traits. Grain yield plant-1 demonstrated positive and significant correlation with productive tillers plant-1, panicle girth, 1000 seed weight and dry fodder yield plant-1 at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Conversely, it showed a significant negative correlation with days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity at both levels. A non-significant but positive association was observed with plant height and panicle length at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. In path analysis high magnitude direct effect of number of productive tillers plant-1 and panicle girth, as well as the highly significant correlation in the desired direction towards grain yield, indicates direct selection based on these characters would help in selecting the high grain yielding genotypes.