GENETIC VARIABILITY, CORRELATION AND PATH ANALYSIS IN TOSSA JUTE (Corchorus olitorius L.) GERMPLASM

Abstract

Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield attributing traits in 41 indigenous genotypes and three commercially cultivated varieties of tossa jute were studied at the Central .lute Agricultural Experiment Station, Manikganj of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (B.1RI) during April to September 2007. Considering genetic parameters, high genotypic coefficient of variation and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean were recorded for the characters- number of nodes per plant, green weight with leaves per plant, green weight without leaves per plant, stick weight per plant and fibre weight per plant suggesting better opportunity for selecting high valued genotypes based on these characters. Fibre yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with green weight without leaves per plant and stick weight per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis indicated maximum direct contribution of stick weight per plant towards fibre yield followed by internode length, green weight without leaves per plant, plant height and green weight with leaves per plant.