Correlation and path coefficient analyses of seed yield components in the sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa L.)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate phenotypic correlation coefficients between seed yield and some yield components and to determine the direct and indirect effect of 9 components on seed yield in sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa L.). The research was conducted at the Agricultural Research and Experiment Center of Agriculture Faculty, Uludag University in 2000-2003. The field experiments were established in a split plot design with four replications. Seed yield, plant height, raceme number per plant, stem number per m2, raceme number per m2 fruit number per raceme, fruit weight per raceme, fruit number per plant, fruit weight per plant and 1000-fruit weight were determined. The data obtained over 3 years were combined. According to results of this research, seed yield was positively and significantly correlated with raceme number per plant (r = 0.266**), fruit number per raceme (r = 546**), fruit weight per raceme (r = 538**), fruit number per plant (r = 0.495**), fruit weight per plant (r = 0.490**) and 1000-fruit weight (r = 0.602**), while seed yield was negative and significantly correlated with stem number per m2 (r = -0.353**) and raceme number per m2 (r = -0.305**). Path coefficient analyses revealed that fruit number per plant (2.2757 and 28.50%) had the highest positive direct effect, followed by fruit weight per raceme (1.6989 and 20.74%), on seed yield, while fruit weight per plant showed the highest negative direct effect (-2.3369 and 28.59%). © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.