Correlation Studies on the Yield and Yield Characters of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) in Anyigba, Kogi State Nigeria

Abstract

Efforts are being made to increase its productivity by developing superior varieties. However, yield is a complex character, its direct improvement is difficult. Knowledge is respect of the nature and magnitude of associations of yield with various component characters is a pre-requisite to bring improvement in the desired direction. This research was conducted at Kogi State University Student Research and Demonstration Farm (Longitude 07°06¹ N; 43°E), Anyigba, Kogi State, to investigate the association of some yield characters with yield in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Two cultivars of eggplant NC-2 (green) and NC-1 (off-white) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Yield component such as number of branches, fruit diameter, number of nodes, and number of fruits shows significant and positive association with yield. Correlation coefficient (r) for yield versus other growth and yield component: Plant height, number of branches, fruit diameter, number of nodes, and number of fruits were found to be 0.983, 0.962, 0.959, 0.906 and 0.891 respectively.

Keywords: Correlation coefficient (r), Character association, Plant height; PH, Number of branches; NB, Fruit Diameter; FD, Number of nodes; NN, Number of Fruits; NF, Yield; Y.