Insights into productive traits of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.): A study of character associations and path coefficients

Examining the correlations between yield and its various attributes, along with their direct and indirect effects on yield, is crucial for developing superior genotypes. The study involved 50 pigeonpea genotypes with four replications to analyze character association and path coefficient analysis. The genotypic correlation coefficients were notably higher than the phenotypic coefficients for nearly all traits, indicating a strong inherent relationship between them. Seed yield per plant showed a significant positive correlation with biological yield per plant, number of pods per plant, and test weight. In contrast, there was a significant negative correlation with days to flowering, which can guide crop improvement efforts. Path coefficient analysis demonstrated that biological yield per plant had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, followed by harvest index, days to maturity, and number of pods per plant. This indicates a genuine relationship among these traits and highlights opportunities for enhancing seed yield per plant.