Studies on genetic variability, character association and path analysis in Niger {Guizotia abyssinica Lf. (Cass)} genotypes

The present investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability parameters and nature of associations among the traits affecting grain yield in thirty niger genotypes at Botany division research farm, College of Agriculture Pune, Maharashtra during kharif, 2022. High estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for number of branches per plant, number of capitula per plant, number of seeds per plant and seed yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and grain yield suggesting that they can be improved through direct selection due to predominant additive variation. Correlation studies revealed that plant height, number of capitula per plant and test weight exhibited highly significant positive correlation with grain yield both at phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis showed that plant height, number of seeds per capitula had the maximum direct effect on grain yield followed by number of capitula per plant.