Correlation, Path and Diversity Analysis of Oat (Avena Sativa L.) Genotypes for Grain and Fodder Yield

Fifty genotypes of fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) were evaluated to measure the Correlation, Path and Diversity during Rabi-2011-12. Path coefficient analyses determine the cause & effect relationships and partitions the correlation into direct and indirect effects was carried out. Maximum positive direct effect on green fodder yield was contributed by leaf stem ratio, dry matter, spike length and number of spikelet’s/panicle. However indirect effect on improvement in green fodder yield was exerted by most of the traits studied. So a direct selection for all these traits will helps in improvement of green fodder yield. Green fodder yield was positively correlated with most of the traits studied except number of leaves and stem girth. Among different traits, plant height and leaf length showed positive correlation with maximum number of traits studied. The D2 analysis on morphological traits grouped the fifty genotypes into ten clusters based on distance ranges. Cluster I includes 37 numbers of lines, Cluster IV and IX includes three lines and Cluster II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII and X includes one line in each. The Cluster with higher number of lines means had low genetic diversity and they are more closely related. Highest intra cluster distance was observed for cluster IX and maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster VIII and III. The inter cluster distances were higher than intra cluster distances suggesting presence of high genetic diversity between lines of any two cluster than the lines present within the cluster. Cluster II is characterized by line having maximum number of prominent traits studied and contributed more towards divergence, so the direct selection for these would be helpful. The study provided the opportunity to identify genotypes to be used in future breeding programme.