Character association and path coefficient analysis in roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Correlation and path coefficient analysis were studied in a set of 52 diverse genotypes of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) during kharif, 2018 at ARS Amadalavalasa for eleven important traits. Fibre yield per plant was found to be significantly and positively correlated for all the characters plant height, base diameter, mid diameter, petiole length, number of nodes per plant, green fresh weight per plant, dry stick weight per plant and fibre wood ratio; whereas days to 50% flowering showed significant negative association both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. All these yield component characters also exhibited strong positive correlation among themselves. Partitioning of correlation coefficients of various yield components upon fibre yield into direct and indirect contributions revealed that dry stick weight per plant has maximum direct effect upon fibre yield per plant followed by fibre wood ratio. Therefore, these characters may serve as potent characters for selection in crop improvement programmes for high fibre yield in roselle.