Correlation and Path Coefficient and Chi-square Distance Cluster Analysis for Several Characteristics in Tobacco Germplasm Resource

Correlation and path coefficient analyses were conducted for 10 characteristics of 24 pure lines of flue-cured tobacco such as plant height, knot distance, leaf number, the central leaf length and width, ratio of the length to width, stem girth, dates of budding, leaf yield and ratio of the prime-medium tobacco. The leaf number and the central leaf length showed a positive or a strong positive correlation with the yield per plant. And the leaf number and leaf yield per plant showed a strong positive correlation with the ratio of prime-medium tobacco. The results showed that the leaf yield per plant among these characteristics played a major role in determining the ratio of prime-medium tobacco while the others were less related with the ratio. Square sum of deviation method cluster analyses showed that 24 pure lines of flue-cured tobacco were clustered into two groups. Of the pure lines, Line T1706 and Line T1245 had a far relationship with all other lines, and also had a heterosis when crossed with the other lines. Lines Guangdonghuangl and R72(3)B-2-1 were closely related.