Correlation and path analysis studies in finger millet for yield and yield contributing traits (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn)

The present investigation consists of 34 finger millet genotypes used for studying genetic variability parameters, correlation and path analysis which was carried out at Field Experiment Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding during Kharif 2019 in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The data were recorded for 15 quantitative characters to study genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path analysis. The analysis of variance indicated significant difference among 34 genotypes for all the characters studied. Moderate GCV and PCV values were observed for harvest index and test weight. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent mean observed for plant height the role of additive genes in the inheritance of these traits and hence these characters could be improved through simple phenotypic selection. Correlation studies revealed significant positive association of grain yield per plant with harvest index for both genotypic level and phenotypic level. The path coefficient analysis indicated that selection for ear head length, number of fingers per ear, biological yield, harvest index as both genotypic level and phenotypic level would directly increase seed yield. IE-3473, IE-4759 were observed as promising genotypes for important quantitative traits.