Estimate of Genotypic and Phenotypic Correlation and Path Coefficient in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L)

The significant positive correlation among phenotypic and genotypic performance, as well as path correlation of crops, contributes to the selection of superior cultivars. Based on the essential relevance of these estimations, it was used in our research. The current research was carried out during autumn winter season 2021-2022 with the aim of to estimate correlation coefficient among the growth and yield attribute and to elucidate the direct and indirect effects of different traits on yield through path coefficient analysis. The experimental material for the study consisted of 40 genotypes including one check (KS-224), laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Observations were recorded on twelve quantitative characters. The most important trait, total fruit yield per plant had exhibited highly significant and positive phenotypic correlation with average fruit weight (0.662), number of fruits per plant (0.476), fruit circumference (0.394) and fruit polar length (0.392). Average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit circumference and fruit polar length were found significantly and positively correlated among themselves. The genotypic direct and indirect effects of most of the traits were similar in nature and higher in magnitude than the phenotypic direct and indirect effect. The higher magnitude of positive direct effect on total fruit yield was exerted by average fruit weight (0.793), number of fruits per plant (0.684) and fruit circumference (0.046). While, negative direct effect on total fruit yield per plant was exerted by days to 50 per cent flowering (-0.093), calyx length (-0.052) and pedicel length (-0.022). Thus, it can be inferred from the data above that selecting for these qualities will effectively enhance the crop for increased production and contributing traits.