Characters Association Analysis in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

Twenty genotypes of safflower was evaluated to study the genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients and path effects of yield related traits on grain yield during rabi cropping season 2011-12 at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan. Grain yield (kg/ha) correlated significantly and positively with plant height, boll diameter, number of grains per boll, 1000 grain weight and days to maturity. Thus these characters are the key yield contributing attributes to be given selection pressure for improving yield. The result of path analysis showed highest and positive direct effect of number of grains per boll followed by 1000 grain weight and plant height on grain yield (kg/ha).

Key words: Genotypic correlations, phenotypic correlation, path analysis, safflower