Studies on correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield related traits in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) under timely and late sown conditions

Two sets of field experiments were conducted at Genetics and Plant Breeding Research Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.), India during Rabi 2014-15 with 30 diverse genotypes of Indian mustard including three checks (Kranti, Vardan and RGN-73) to assess the correlation and path coefficients for yield and yield related traits under timely (TS) and late sown (LS) conditions. The genotypes were evaluated for thirteen quantitative characters viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of primary branches plant-1, number of secondary branches plant-1, length of main raceme (cm), silique on main raceme (cm), seeds silique-1, 1000-seed weight (g), biological yield plant-1 (g), harvest index (%), oil content (%) and seed yield plant-1 (g). Seed yield plant-1 showed highly significant and positive association with biological yield plant-1 followed by harvest index, silique on main raceme, length of main raceme, 1000-seed weight and secondary branches plant-1 both, under timely and late sown conditions. On the other hand plant height possessed highly significant and positive association with seed yield plant-1 only under timely sown condition. Path analysis identified biological yield plant-1 followed by harvest index, as major direct contributors towards seed yield plant-1 (both under timely and late sown conditions), while plant height emerged as most important indirect yield component under timely sown condition. Secondary branches plant-1 (at genotypic level) and Plant height (at phenotypic level) showed maximum indirect effect on seed yield plant-1 via., biological yield plant-1 under late sown condition. The characters mentioned above should be given due consideration at the time of selection to develop stable high yielding genotypes in Indian mustard to sustain the production and productivity.