Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Morphological and Yield Contributing Traits in Garlic Genotypes

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is the second most frequently cultivated (flavour) crop after onion. Understanding the relationships between various components and their respective contributions has immense value in selection. Yield is a highly complex trait, and is dependent on a number of attributing traits. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken in order to understand the relationship among the different horticultural and yield traits in garlic. The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Horticultural Research and Training Station, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandaghat. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and comprised 20 promising lines. The association among various phenological, morphological, yield-contributing, and quality traits was studied using correlation and path coefficient analysis. The results from the correlation analysis indicated that traits such as equatorial diameter, total soluble solids, clove weight, clove breadth, number of leaves per plant, days to maturity, plant height, dry matter, leaf length, neck thickness, and number of cloves per bulb were significantly and positively associated with bulb yield. In addition, path analysis suggested that the equatorial diameter of bulb had the greatest direct impact on bulb weight, the strong positive and direct effect of bulb weight resulted in a positive association with yield. Therefore, the results inferred that emphasis should be given to equatorial diameter, number of leaves per plant, days to maturity, plant height, dry matter, and neck thickness traits in making direct selection for improvement of bulb yield in garlic.