Principal Component Analysis and Path Coefficient Analysis for Groundnut Yield and Seed Quality Attributes (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Background: A complex quantitative characteristic yield is heavily impacted by the environment. The productivity of groundnut can be increased less effectively through direct selection for grain yield. The current study aimed to study the variation among diverse groundnut genotypes. Methods: Phenotypic data was collected on seven quantitative and six qualitative characters for 24 genotypes under study carried out in randomised block design (RBD). GRAPES software has been used for analysis. Result: Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters indicating the prevalence of ample genetic variability within the genotypes. Significant positive associations were observed for primary branches, secondary branches, 100-pod weight, shelling per cent, protein and zinc content. Path analysis revealed that plant height, primary branches per plant, hundred pod weight, shelling percent, protein content and zinc content are the most important characters which could be used as selection criteria for effective improvement of pod yield. Using GRAPES software, Fourteen Principal components are extracted based on mean values of which the first five PCs showed 73.24% variation with eigen values more than 1. Biplot constructed by Principal component analysis revealed Hundred pod weight and hundred kernel weight as important traits for study.