Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This study aimed to investigate the correlations among yield and yield component traits and estimate the direct and indirect effects of these traits on grain yield in rice. The experiment was conducted during kharif 2022. Correlation coefficients and path coefficients were analyzed to determine the relationships between these traits and seed yield. The results showed significant positive correlations between seed yield and traits such as effective tillers per plant, total tillers per plant, number of filled grains, spikelet fertility, biological yield, harvest index, and 100 seed weight. The genotypic correlations were slightly higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlations. Path coefficient analysis revealed that biological yield had the maximum direct effect on seed yield, followed by harvest index, panicle length, and number of filled grains per panicle, plant height, and effective tillers per plant, 100 seed weight, and days to 50% flowering. These findings provide valuable information for selecting superior cross combinations in hybrid rice breeding programs to improve grain yield.