Studies on Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Twenty genotypes of barley were investigated for variability, character association and, path analysis for grain yield and its components. The data were recorded for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of tillers per plant, spike length, grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, biological yield per plant, harvest index and grain yield per plant. The results indicated that the characters number of effective tillers per plant, number of spikelets per spike, plant height, and number of grains per spike and seed yield per plant recorded high heritability, genetic advance, and coefficient of variation. Therefore, clearly these characters were less influenced by the environmental changes and the improvement in these characters would be more effective through selection despite their additive gene effects. Estimates of broad sense heritability were high for all traits except days to maturity, number of tillers per plant and, grain yield per plant. High heritability estimates coupled with moderate genetic advance as percentage of mean were recorded for biological yield per plant, grains per spike, plant height and days to 50% flowering. From path analysis recorded the highest positive direct effect of days to 50% flowering, biological yield per plant and lowest due to days to maturity on grain yield.