CORRELATION AND PATH COEFFICIENT STUDIES OVER ENVIRONMENTS IN DESI COTTON (GOSSYPIUM ARBOREUM L.)

Abstract

Eighty three genotypes (60 Fts and 23 parents) were raised over three environments to study the correlation and path coefficients among ten quantitative characters in desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum). Seed-cotton yield showed high order positive and significant association with number of bolls, seed yield, lint yield, ginning ('Yo) and lint index. However, positive and significant correlations were observed for numberof bolls with seed yield, lint yield, ginning ('Yo), lint index and seed- cotton yield; seed yield with lint yield, ginning ('Yo), lint index and seed-cotton yield; lint yield with ginning ('Yo), lint index and seed-Callan yield; ginning ('Yo) with lint index and seed- cotton yield; seed index with lint index. These correlations were quite consistant over environments with few exceptions. The path coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield and lint yield are the direct contributors to the seed-cotton yield whereas number of bolls, ginning ('Yo) and lint index arc indirect contributors via seed and lint yields.