Characters association and path coefficient analysis for quantitative traits of Olitorius jute

Fifty-two olitorius jute germplasm lines were evaluated to monitor genetic variability, heritability, genetic progress, correlation coefficient and path analysis for yield and yield attributes. Wide variation was maintained for days to flowering, days to 50% flowering, plant height, stick yield and fiber yield. Genotype JRO 524 and JRO 204 were promising for fiber yield and yield atributes. The best genotypic and phenotypic variance occurred for stick weight, plant height, days to flowering and days to 50% flowering. A better phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits indicated that the traits were studied. Green weight, basal diameter, days to 50% flowering, fiber yield, days to initiation of flowering, plant height and cane yield recorded higher heritability accompanied by good amount of additive genetic action that can be used for additional crop improvement. Stick weight and plant height showed maximum and green weight showed minimum genetic advance. High heritability with moderate to high genetic advance over percent mean changed percent mean change in fiber yield, green weight, days to flowering, days to 50% flowering and stick yield. High heritability with low genetic evolution over the proportion of implied changes observed in plant height and basal diameter indicates a predominance of non-additive genetic action. Low heritability with low genetic improvement over percent mean fiber yield indicated the presence of both additive and non-additive gene effects. Yield-contributing traits were significantly associated with fiber yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels except percent fiber recovery. Days to flowering at the phenotypic and genotypic level and plant height and basal diameter at the genotypic level showed a negative direct effect on fiber yield. The significant positive correlation with fiber yield per plant indicates that bias selection can be made for high yielding jute olitorius genotypes through most of the positively correlated traits.