G x E Interaction and path analysis for yield and its attributing traits in advanced genotypes of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during kharif-2012, 2013 and 2014 under rain fed condition at the Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi located in north eastern dry zone (Zone 2) of Karnataka, to know the stability and path analysis of the twenty genotypes of pigeonpea including check WRP-1. Highly significant differences among genotypes were observed for all the characters except primary branches. Environmental + (Genotype × Environment) interaction was significant for days to maturity, primary branch, pod bearing length, and seed yield per plant. The variance due to pooled deviation was highly significant for all the characters except for primary branches, pod length and number of seeds per pod which reflect the presence of sufficient genetic variability in the material. Out of 20 genotypes studied, RVK-275 (X=38.713, bi=1.7 and S²di = -9.67) and AKT-9913 (X =43.397, bi=2.86 and S²di= -7.42) were found to be a stable for seed yield and test weight, across the environments with good stability under rain fed conditions compared to local check. Path analysis revealed that days to flower initiation (3.942 and 1.123), days to maturity (1.493 and 0.960), primary branches (0.667 and 0.045), pod bearing length (1.153 and 0.394), number of pods per plant (0.661 and 0.463) and 100 seed weight (0.352 and 0.426) had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield both at genotypic and phenotypic level. For maximizing the grain yield per plant emphasis should be given in selection of such characters for further improvement in pigeonpea.