IJIIIIJ
4.4 Path coefficient analysis
(FW) (-0.127) and fruit Length (FL) (-0.009) (Table 8). Singh ci at (2004) showed that days to 50% flowering had high positive direct effect on yield.
4.4.3 Plant height
Path analysis revealed that plant height had negative direct effect (-0.03 1) on yield per plant and positive indirect effect through D50%F (0.001), BPP (0.00 I). NB? (0.000), FPP (0.073), and FW (0.071). On the other hand, plant height showed negative indirect effect on yield per plant via DFF (4016), FPB (4036) and FL (-0.004) (Table 8). Singh cZ at (2006) reported that plant height exhibited the maximum positive direct effect on yield of tomato. Matin ci aL (2001) reported that plant height had negative direct effect on yield per plant.
4.4.4 Number of branches per plant (BPP)
Number of branches per plant had the negative direct effect on yield per plant (- 0.006). This trait had positive indirect effect on days to 50% flowering (D501/oF) (0.002), plant height (P11) (0.003) and number of fruits per plant (FPP) (0.226) where negative indirect effect was found on days to first flowering (DFF) (-0.004), number of cluster per plant (NCP) (4005), number of fruits per cluster (FPC) (-0.020). fruit weight (FW) (-0.303) and fruit length (FL) (40 17) (Table 8). Verma ci at (2000).
Padda et at (2007). Singh ci at (2006) observed that number of branches per plant exhibited positive as well maximum positive direct effect on yield at the genotypic and phenotypic levels. Singh ci at (2004) reported that number of primary branches
per plant had direct negative effects on yield.
4.4.5 Number of clusters per plant (NCP)
Number of clusters per plant (NCP) had negative direct effect (-0.007) on yield per plant and positive indirect effect on days to 50% flowering (D50%F) (0.002), plant height (PT I) (0.002), number of fruits per cluster (FPC) (0.069) and number of fruits per plant (FPP) (0.196). On the other hand this trait showed negative indirect effect on days to first flowering (DFF) -0.007), number of branches per plant (BPP) -0.005),
fruit weight (FW) (4440) and fruit length (FL) (-0.022) (Table 8). Singh ci at (2004) reported that number of clusters per plant had direct negative effects on yield.
4.4.6 Number of fruits per cluster (FPC)
Number of fruits per cluster showed negative direct (-0.311) effect on yield per plant and positive indirect effects through days to first flowering (DFF) (0.002), days to 50% flowering (D50%F) (0.001), number of branches per plant (BPP) (0.000), number of clusters per plant (NCP) (0.002) and fruits per plant (FPP) (0.306). It also had negative indirect effect on plant height (P1-I) (-0.004). fruit weight (FW) (-0.121) and fruit length (FL) (-0.045) (Table 8). Harer ci' at (2002), Singh ci at. (2004) reported that number of fruits per cluster had direct maximum effects on fruit yield.
4.4.7 Number of fruits per plant
Number of fruits per plant showed positive direct effect (0.801) on yield per plant and positive indirect effects through days to 50% flowering (D500/oF) (0.002). Number fruits per plant (FPP) had negative indirect effect on days to first flowering (DFF) (- 0.008), plant height (PH) (-0.004), number of branches per plant (B??) (-0.003), number of clusters per plant (NCP) (4003), number of fruits per cluster (FPC) (- 0.176), fruit weight (FW) (-0.394) and fruit length (FL) (-0.045) (Table 8). Verma ci aL (2000), Matin c/aL (2001), 1-larer ci at (2002) Padda ci at (2007), Kumar ci' at (2003), Singh ci at (2006) observed that total number of fruits per plant had high as well as direct maximum effects on fruit yield at the genotypic and phenotypic levels.
4.4.8 Fruit weight
Path analysis revealed that fruit weight had direct positive effect (0.965) on yield per plant. This trait had also indirect positive effect on number of branches per plant (BPP) (0.002), number of clusters per plant (NCP) (0.003), number of fruits per cluster (FPC) (0.039) and fruit length (FL) (0.071). On the other hand fruit weight showed indirect negative effect on days to first flowering (DFF) (-0.005), days to 50%
flowering (050%F) (-0.001), plant height (PH) (-0.002) and fruits per plant (FPP) (-
0.222) (Table 8). Islam and Khan (1991) observed that fruits per plant, average fruit weight, plant height and days to first flowering had positive direct eltects on yield of tomato. Verma et al. (2000). Manivannan et al. (2005). Singh et al. (2006) showed that fruit weight had the highest direct effect on fruit yield. Matin et al. (2001), Padma et al. (2002), Kumar et al. (2003), Mohanty et at (2003). Singh et al. (2006), Kumar et al. (2007) reported that average fruit weight had positive direct maximum effects on fruit yield.
4.4.9 Fruit length
Path analysis revealed that fruit length had direct positive effect (0.126) on yield per plant. This trait had also indirect positive effect on plant height (PH) (0.001), number
V. of branches per plant (BPP) (0.001), number of clusters per plant (NCP) (0.001), number of fruits per cluster (FPC) (0.111) and fruit weight (FW) (0.548). On the other hand fruit length showed indirect negative effect on days to first flowering (OFF) (- 0.012), days to 50% flowering (050%F) (-0.001) and fruits per plant (FPP) (-0.194) (Table 8). Patil et al. reported that fruit length was directly responsible for the determination of yield in tomato. Padda et aL(2007). and Singh et al. (2004) revcalcd that fruit length exhibited positive effect on yield per plant al the genotypic and phenotypic levels.
0
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Table 8. Path coefficient analysis showing direct and indirect effects of different characters on yield of tomato Indirect effect
Pearson Character
s
Direct effect
DFF D50%
F PH BPP NCP FPC FPP FW FL correlation
with yield DFF 0.047 0.047 -0.002 0.010 0.001 0.001 -0.014 -0.095 -0.106 -0,031 0.190*
050%F 0.009 -0.009 0.009 -0.004 -0.00 1 -0.002 -0.031 0.136 -0.127 -0.009 -0.038 PH -0.031 -0.016 0.001 -0.031 0.001 0.000 -0.036 0.073 0.071 -0.004 0.060 B1'P -0.006 -0.004 0.002 0.003 -0.006 -0.005 -0.020 0.226 -0.303 -0.017 -0.125 NCP -0.007 -0.007 0.002 0.002 -0.005 -0.007 0.069 0.196 -0.440 -0.022 0.212*
FPC -0.311 0.002 0.001 -0.004 0.000 0.002 -0.311 0.306 -0.121 -0.045 -0.170 FPP 0.543 -0.008 0.002 -0.004_1 -0.003 -0.003 -0.176 0.543 -0.394 -0.045 -0.086 FW 0.965 -0.005 -0.001 -0,002 0.002 0.003 0.039 -0.222 0.965 0.071 0.850**
FL 0.126 -0.012 -0.001 0.001 0.001 fp.00i 0.111 -0.194 0.548 0.126 0.581**
Residual effect: 0.330
** = Significant at 1%.
* = Significant at 5%.
DFF = Days of first flowering, D 50% F = Days to 50% flowering, P1-I = Plant height (cm), BPP = Branches per plant. NCP
Number of cluster per plant, FPC = Fruits per cluster. FPP = Fruits per plant, FW = Fruit weight (g), FL = Fruit length (cm). FYP = Fruit yield per plant (kg).
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