Correlation and Path Analysis in Leafy Amaranthus Genotypes for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the summer season of 2025 at the Instructional-cum-Research Farm, Horticulture Section, Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government College of Agriculture, Kolhapur. Twenty-nine genotypes of leafy amaranthus were evaluated in a randomised block design with two replications. The study aimed to determine the genotypic and phenotypic associations of fresh weight per plant (g) with its component traits and to assess their direct and indirect effects through genotypic path analysis. Fresh weight per plant (g) had highly significant positive associations with leaf area (cm2), average leaf weight (g), number of leaves per plant, stem girth (mm), number of branches per plant and plant height (cm) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Among these traits, leaf area (cm2), average leaf weight (g) and number of leaves per plant had the strongest positive associations with fresh weight per plant (g). Genotypic path analysis revealed that number of leaves per plant recorded the highest positive direct effect on fresh weight per plant (g), followed by leaf area (cm2) and average leaf weight (g). In contrast, stem girth (mm), number of branches per plant and days to harvest had negative direct effects, indicating that the positive associations of stem girth (mm) and number of branches per plant with fresh weight per plant (g) were mainly influenced by indirect effects through other component traits. The study identified number of leaves per plant, leaf area (cm2) and average leaf weight (g) as important selection criteria for improving fresh weight per plant (g) in leafy amaranthus.