Estimation of character associations, direct and indirect effects among yield, yield component and water use efficiency traits in blackgram

An investigation was carried out using 30 blackgram genotypes to study the correlations and various direct and indirect effects among yield, yield components and water use efficiency traits on seed yield in order to identify high yielding lines with more water use efficiency. Character association studies revealed that number of clusters per plant (rp = 0.470**, rg = 0.584**), followed by pods per plant (rp = 0.424**, rg = 0.604**), pod length (rp = 0.235*, rg = 0.384**) and number of seeds per pod (rp = 0.414**, rg = 0.673**) exhibited significant positive correlation, whereas days to 50% flowering (rp = -0.267*, rg = -0.400**) recorded significant negative association with seed yield. Path analysis revealed that number of seeds per pod had high positive direct effect, while number of pods per plant exhibited moderate positive direct effect on seed yield. Hence, selection based on these traits would aid in simultaneous improvement of seed yield and water use efficiency.