Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Advanced Matromorphic Generations of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Background: Garden pea is an important leguminous vegetable crop but the lack of high yielding and stable varieties is the major constraint. There is a need to explore genetic variability for the crop improvement programs. Considering this, the current investigation was aimed to study the genetic variability and relationship among the yield and its contributing traits in advanced matromorphic progenies for effective production. Methods: A two year experiment was carried out at SKUAST- Chatha, Jammu during the cropping season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to find out the genetic variability parameters, path coefficient and correlation studies for thirteen yield contributing traits in twenty two garden pea genotypes (twelve advanced matromorphic progenies and ten parental lines). Result: The results revealed high variability among the tested genotypes. The values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were greater as compared to the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. High heritability along with genetic advance ( greater than 20%) was observed for all the traits whereas pod length (PL) and shelling percentage (SP) were exceptions. Pod yield per plant ( PYPP) had positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with node at which first flower appears (NFFA), plant height(PH), internodal distance (ID), no. of pods per node (NPPN), pod length (PL), no. of seeds per pod(NSPP), no. of pods per plant (NPP), days to first picking (DFF), average pod weight (APW) and shelling percentage (SP). Positive direct effect on pod yield per plant (PYPP) was exhibited by traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering (DFPF), node at which first flower appears (NFFA), internodal distance (ID), no. of pods per node (NPPN), pod width (PW), no. of seeds per pod (NSPP), no. of pods per plant (NPPP), days to first picking (DFP) and average pod weight (APW) in path coefficient analysis.