Inherent association among quantitative traits in French Marigold (Tagetes patula)

A field experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Experimental Garden, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, and Varanasi. Ten diverse genotypes of French marigold (Tagetes patula) were planted with three replications. Data on twelve quantitative traits were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each replication. Among the component traits studied, spread of plant, leaf area, flowering span, number of flowers per plant, size of flower and average weight of flower had the positive association with yield of flowers per plant. Therefore, major yield contributing traits seems to be more important for the improvement of most important economic trait i.e., flowers yield. Genotypic and phenotypic path analysis revealed that the last picking of the flowers had the highest direct effect on flower yield per plant followed by size of flower, flowering span, spread of plant, number of flowers per plant and days taken to first bud appearance. Thus, yield component traits may enhance the final end product i.e., flowers yield per plant.