GENETIC VARIABILITY, CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF WHITE JUTE (Corchorus capsularis L.)

Abstract

ute (Corchorus capsularis L.) is an important fibre crop of manifold utility. Its fibre yield and quality is dependent on component characters which are quantitatively inherited and considerably influenced by environment. In crop plants, most economical characters are controlled by many genes. Physiological and linkage relationship have been frequently observed in genes governing various quantitative characters (Dhillon and Gupta, 1975). Hence, knowledge on the phenotypic and genotypic correlations between important characters is considered useful in planning an efficient breeding programme. Besides, correlations between important and unimportant characters may reveal that some of the latter are useful as indication of one or more of the important characters (Johnson et al., 1955 a). Thus, advancement through a breeding programme depends upon the extent of genetic variability in the population and the extent to which the desirable traits are heritable. In this context, correlation and path-coefficient analysis assume special importance as they not only measure mutual association but also estimate the direct and indirect contributions of perspective traits. This investigation was, therefore, undertaken to measure the genetic variability, nature of association among different plant traits and the potential applicability of path analysis techniques in breeding white jute.