Correlation and path coefficient analysis in Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

Correlation and path analysis on 80 diverse accessions of J. curcas showed that seed weight/plant was significantly and positively associated with female flower/plant, male flower/plant, number of flower/plant, number of seed/plant, fruit weight/plant, seed width and negatively associated with oil content. Oil content was negatively and significantly correlated with all the traits studied with strong negative association with female flower/plant followed by male flower/plant, number of seed/plant, fruit weight/plant and seed weight/plant. Male flower per plant had the maximum direct effect on seed yield, followed by number of seeds/plant, seed width, number of fruits/plant and oil content. The results of the present investigations suggests that selection in J. curcas based on male flower/plant, number of fruit/plant, number of seeds/plant, seed width and oil content would be advantageous to achieve the desirable goals. The indirect selection through other component traits would also be rewarding to improve the seed yield.