Correlation and path coefficient analysis in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.)

Abstract

A study was undertaken at the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to determine the character association for yield and quality of green fodder and their degree of association and relative influence on yield in guinea grass. Twenty four diverse varieties of guinea grass were selected for the study and laid out in randomised block design with three replications. Observations were made on nine morphological characters and four chemical attributes and the data collected were subjected to variability studies and correlation analysis. Five morphological characters which showed highly significant genotypic correlation with green fodder yield were considered for path coefficient analysis in order to separate the total correlation of these characters with green fodder yield into direct effects and indirect effects via. other characters.