Correlation and path coefficient analysis of yield characters of bambara (Vigna subterranea L.Verdc.)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the inter-relationship between grain yield of Bambara groundnut and its various yield characters at Samaru (11°11’N, 07°38’E, 686 m above sea level) in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria, using simple correlation and path coefficient analyses. The result reveals strong positive correlation between number of pods/plants (r = 0.74**), 100-grain weight (r= 0.35**) and harvest index (r = 0.83**) with seed yield. Harvest index made the highest direct percent contribution to seed yield (39.872%) followed by number of pods/plant which contributed 12.809%. The largest combined percent contribution to seed yield were obtained through number of pods/plant and harvest index (13.677%). Although 100-grain weight had significant positive correlation with grain yield (r = 0.35**), its direct independent contribution to grain yield was found to be very low (0.778%) due to high component compensation and unfavourable weather conditions while the correlation and direct contributions of number of seeds and shelling percentage to grain yield were weak and small, respectively. Therefore, the most important yield determinants of bambara groundnut which should be exploited through a breeding programme for improving its yield potentials, were number of pods/plant, and harvest index.