Direct and Indirect Effects of Yield Related Traits on Seed Yield in Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica Carinata A. BRAUN) Genotypes

Understanding trait association is essential to increasing the effectiveness of crop plant improvement selection. In order to ascertain the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on Ethiopian mustard seed yield, as well as the extent of trait relationships, this study was carried out at the Holetta Agricultural Research Center's main station in 2020 and 2021. The study employed 23 advanced genotypes and two standard checks, Tesfa and Deresh. A 5 x 5 simple lattice design was used to set up the experiment. The SAS 9.3(2014) software was used to analyze the data on days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, yield per plot, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, and number of pods per plant. Calculating the relative efficiency of randomized complete block design versus simple lattice design, 123% was found. Simple path coefficient and correlation coefficient analyses were conducted, and the significance and effects were evaluated in accordance with the standards set by various biometricians. The genotypes that were tested differed significantly, as demonstrated by the analysis of variance. All traits were positively and significantly correlated, both at the genotypic and phenotypic levels, with seed yield per plot, according to the correlation coefficient analysis. All traits had a positive and highest direct effect on seed yield, according to phenotypic and genotypic path coefficient analysis.