Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(1): 222-226

E-ISSN: 2278-4136
P-ISSN: 2349-8234
JPP 2019; 8(1): 222-226 Correlation and path analysis in rice (Oryza sativa
Received: 20-11-2018
Accepted: 22-12-2018 L.) for seed and seed vigour traits
Nusrat Jan
Department of Biological Nusrat Jan and Subhash C Kashyap
Science, SHUATS, Allahabad,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
An experiment comprising thirty-five diverse genotypes of rice maintained at division of plant breeding
Subhash C Kashyap
Directorate of Education
and genetics of MRCFC, SKUAST-K, Khudwani was carried out to assess the nature and magnitude of
SKUAST-J, Chatha-180009 association among different seed and seed vigour traits. Data on twelve seed and seedling characters was
Jammu and Kashmir, India recorded and analysed statistically for correlation and path analysis. Association studies revealed that
seedling length (mm), shoot length (mm), germination (%), root length (mm), seed breadth (mm) and
1000 seed weight (g) showed high and significant positive association with seed vigour index at both
genotypic and phenotypic levels. Seedling length (mm) and germination (%) showed highest direct
positive effect on seed vigour index at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Hence, these traits should
be given priority in rice improvement programme and keeping in mind the importance of seed.

Keywords: Seed, seed vigour, correlation, path and Oryza sativa L.

Introduction
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important food crop of the world. It is the staple food of
over half of the population. Rice is mainly a crop of tropics but can be cultivated in some area
of temperate region too. Seed plays an important role for the success of any crop and it is the
most important input for the success of any crop production programme. Seed vigour is an
important factor that affects seedling establishment. Seeds low in vigour generally produces
weak seedlings that are susceptible to environmental stresses. High vigour in seeds is expected
to provide the growing seedlings the competitive advantage against various environmental
stresses. Early vigour is a complex character and is a multiplicative end-product of many
factors called vigour parameters. To make selection effective for early vigour, a thorough
understanding of vigour indicating parameters, inter-relationship among them and with vigour
is necessary (Rajendragouda et al. 2014) [12]. Correlation is a powerful tool to study the
association of characters and was therefore very useful to decide selection strategy for
improvement of a character without sacrificing gain in the other traits. Correlation and path
analysis establish the extent of association between yield and its components and also bring
out relative importance of their direct and indirect effects, thus giving an obvious
understanding of their association with grain yield (Babu et al. 2012) [5]. The association of
plant characters and yield thus assumes special importance in formulation of selection criteria
for yield.

Materials and Methods

The present experiment comprising was carried out in the Division of Plant Breeding and
Genetics at Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, SKUAST-K, Khudwani, Anantnag
(J&K). The material consisted of 35 diverse rice genotypes from Mountain Research Centre
for Field Crops. The experiment was laid in three replications in laboratory conditions. Data
on seed and seedling traits viz.1000 seed weight (g), seed length (mm), seed breadth (mm),
L/B ratio, germination (%), seedling length (mm), root length (mm), shoot length (mm), root
shoot ratio, seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry weight (mg) and seed vigour index were
recorded from randomly selected samples of seed of each genotypes. The standard evaluation
system for rice of IRRI (Anonymous, 1996) [3] was followed for recording observation for
each character. The data recorded for each character was subjected to statistical analysis for
correlation (Al-Jibourie et al, 1958) [2] and path coefficient analysis (Dewey and Lu, 1958) [7].

Correspondence Results and Discussion

Nusrat Jan Correlation coefficient is a statistical measure which is used to find out the degree (strength)
Department of Biological
Science, SHUATS, Allahabad, and direction of relationship between two or more variables. A positive value of correlation
Uttar Pradesh, India shows that the changes of two variables are in the same directions.
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While selecting the suitable plant type, correlation studies germination (%), average shoot length, 100 seed weight in
would provide reliable information in nature to the extent and radish (Raphanus sativus L., Singh et al., 2000 [16] for shoot
the direction of the selection, especially when the breeder length, root length and test weight in wheat (Triticum
want to combine high yield potential with desirable seed aestivum L.), Pathak and Chakrabarti, 2014 [10] for seedling
quality traits. shoot length in green gram (Vigna radiata), Nichal et al.,
Correlation analysis among seed and seed related traits 2015 [9] for germination (%), root length and shoot length in
revealed that genotypic correlation was higher than sunflower and Tyagi et al., 2012 [17] for root length, shoot
phenotypic correlation in almost all the traits, indicating that length and seedling length in soybean.
the association is largely due to genetic reason and least
affected by environment. Path coefficient analysis
As the number of independent variables influencing a
Genotypic Correlation coefficient particular dependent variable increases the amount of
The correlation analysis among 12 seed and seed vigour traits interdependence of variable also increases and thus indirect
for association among these traits at genotypic levels was association becomes more complex and important. Under
worked out and results (table-1) revealed that seed vigour such situation, correlation alone is not sufficient to give true
index showed a positive and significant correlation with picture of association for effective manipulation of characters.
seedling length (mm) (0.84**) followed by shoot length (mm) Hence, path coefficient analysis become must to know which
(0.75**), germination (%) (0.71**), root length (mm) of the independent characters has the most direct effect on
(0.58**), seed breadth (mm) (0.59**) and 1000 seed weight dependent character. In the present experiment path
(g) (0.38**). Because of improvement in one trait may bring coefficient analysis revealed that the values of genotypic path
improvement in other trait (Yadav et al., 2011) [18] hence, coefficient were in general higher than the corresponding
strong positive association between these traits indicated a phenotypic path coefficient in most of the traits which might
rapid and high improvement during selection. A negative and be due to considerable effect of environment on these traits.
significant association with L/B ratio (-0.69**) and seed The results of present study are in consonance with those
length (mm) (-0.66**) and a negative but non-significant observed by Agahi et al., 2007 [1].
association with root shoot ratio (-0.19) and seedling dry
weight (g) (-0.05) was observed. Similar results were also Genotypic path coefficient analysis
reported by Singh and Singh, 2012 [15] for germination Perusal of table-2 revealed that highest direct effect on seed
percentage, average shoot length, 100 seed weight in radish vigour index was exhibited by seedling length (0.703),
(Raphanus sativus L.), Aswasthi et al., 2016 for shoot length, germination (%) (0.500), shoot length (0.070), root shoot ratio
root length and germination in pulse crop (Vigna Spp.), Singh (0.053), 1000 seed weight (0.038), seed length (0.006) and
et al., 2000 [16] for shoot length, root length and test weight in seedling dry weight (0.004). Positive direct effect of these
wheat, Pathak and Chakrabarti, 2014 [10] for seedling shoot traits on seed vigour indicates their importance in determining
length in green gram (Vigna radiata), Kumar et al., 2016 [8] this complex character and therefore should be given
for root length and shoot length in wheat, Sharma and Singh, preference for the improvement of this trait. The traits L/B
2012 [14] for root length in tomato, Nichal et al., 2015 [9] for ratio (-0.088), seed breadth (-0.087), seedling fresh weight (-
seed germination, root length and shoot length in sunflower 0.071) and root length (-0.035) showed direct negative effect.
(Helianthus annus L.), Bhardwaj and Kumar, 2012 [6] for Similar results were also reported by Singh et al., 2000 [16] for
germination (%) and seedling length in cucumber (Cucumis shoot length, root length in wheat by Pathak and Chakraborti,
sativus L.) and Tyagi et al., 2012 [17] for root length, shoot 2014 [10] for root shoot ratio, seedling shoot length, seedling
length and seedling length in soybean. dry weight, seedling root length, germination (%) in green
gram (Vigna radiata), Kumar et al., 2016 [8] for shoot length
Phenotypic Correlation coefficient and germination (%) in wheat and by Singh and Singh, 2012
[15]
At phenotypic level a significant positive correlation observed for 100 seed weight, germination (%) and average shoot
between seed vigour index and seedling length (mm) length in radish.
(0.84**), shoot length (mm) (0.75**), germination (%)
(0.71**), root length (mm) (0.57**), seed breadth (mm) Phenotypic path coefficient analysis
(0.48**) and 1000 seed weight (g) (0.38**). The strong The results of phenotypic path coefficient analysis (Table 2)
positive association between these traits showed a highly showed the highest direct effect on seed vigour index was
favorable situation for improvement of these characters from exhibited by seedling length (0.698), germination (0.498),
breeding point of view (Yadav et al., 2011) [18]. The character shoot length (0.061), root shoot ratio (0.043), 1000 seed
seedling fresh weight (g) (0.04) showed positive but non- weight (0.034) and L/B ratio (0.028) (fig-2). While as, the
significant association with seed vigour index. While as, character like seed length (-0.049), seedling fresh weight (-
negative significant association was observed with L/B ratio 0.042), root length (-0.032), seedling dry weight (-0.018) and
(-0.65**) and seed length (mm) (-0.64**). Whereas, traits like seed breadth (-0.010) showed negative direct effect on seed
root shoot ratio (-0.18) and seedling dry weight (g) (-0.05) vigor index. Similar results were also reported by Sharma and
showed negative non-significant association. Similar results Singh 2012 [13] for shoot length in tomato and Patta et al.,
were also reported by Singh and Singh 2012 [15] for 2016 [1] for seedling length in wheat.

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Table 1: Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient between seed and seed vigour traits with seed vigour index in 35 rice genotypes.
1000 Seedling Seedling
Seed Seed Seedling Root Shoot Root Seed
seed L/B Germination fresh dry
S. No Character length breadth length length length shoot vigour
weight ratio (%) Weight. weight.
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Ratio index
(g) (g) (g)
1000 Seed G 1.00 -0.15 0.28** -0.24* 0.18 0.36** 0.14 0.35** -0.28** 0.05 -0.01 0.38**
1
Weight (g) P 1.00 -0.12 0.25* -0.23* 0.19* 0.36** 0.14 0.34** -0.26** 0.05 0.00 0.38**
Seed length G 1.00 -0.71** 0.95** -0.47** -0.57** -0.56** -0.76** 0.32** -0.08 -0.05 -0.66**
2
(mm) P 1.00 -0.52** 0.84** -0.44** -0.55** -0.55** -0.74** 0.33** -0.08 -0.04 -0.64**
Seed breadth G 1.00 -0.91** 0.42** 0.50** 0.45** 0.55** -0.13 -0.23* -0.16 0.59**
3
(mm) P 1.00 -0.86** 0.35** 0.41** 0.37** 0.45** -0.07 -0.19* -0.13 0.48**
G 1.00 -0.50** -0.58** -0.56** -0.72** 0.26* 0.05 0.05 -0.69**
4 L/B ratio
P 1.00 -0.48** -0.55** -0.53** -0.68** 0.22** 0.05 0.04 -0.65**
Germination G 1.00 0.25** 0.19* 0.48** -0.28* -0.28** -0.36** 0.71**
5
(%) P 1.00 0.25* 0.19* 0.48** -0.27** -0.28** -0.35** 0.71**
Seedling length G 1.00 0.71** 0.67** -0.02 0.34** 0.26** 0.84**
6
(mm) P 1.00 0.71** 0.67** -0.02 0.34** 0.26** 0.84**
Root length G 1.00 0.43** 0.32** 0.54** 0.48** 0.58**
7
(mm) P 1.00 0.43** 0.31** 0.54** 0.48** 0.57**
Shoot length G 1.00 -0.60** 0.08 -0.01 0.75**
8
(mm) P 1.00 -0.58** 0.08 -0.01 0.75**
G 1.00 0.15 0.27** -0.19*
9 Root shoot ratio
P 1.00 0.15 0.27** -0.18
Seedling fresh G 1.00 0.92** 0.04
10
weight.(g) P 1.00 0.91** 0.04
Seedling dry G 1.00 -0.05
11
weight.(g) P 1.00 -0.05
Seed vigour G 1.00
12
index P 1.00
Where, * and ** Significant at 1% and 5% level of significance respectively.

Table 2: Direct (diagonal) and indirect effect of different seed and seed vigour traits on seed vigour index in 35 rice genotypes
Seed Seed Seedling Root Shoot Root Seedling Seedling Seed
S. 1000 Seed L/B Germination
Character length breadth length length length shoot fresh dry vigour
No weight (g) Ratio (%)
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) ratio weight.(g) weight.(g) index
1000 seed G 0.038 -0.006 0.011 -0.009 0.007 0.014 0.005 0.013 -0.011 0.002 0.000 0.380
1.
weight (g) P 0.034 -0.004 0.008 -0.008 0.006 0.012 0.005 0.012 -0.009 0.002 0.000 0.376
seed length G -0.001 0.006 -0.005 0.006 -0.003 -0.004 -0.004 -0.005 0.002 -0.001 0.000 -0.662
2.
(mm) P 0.006 -0.049 0.025 -0.041 0.022 0.027 0.027 0.036 -0.016 0.004 0.002 -0.636
seed breadth G -0.024 0.062 -0.087 0.079 -0.036 -0.043 -0.039 -0.048 0.011 0.020 0.014 0.590
3.
(mm) P -0.003 0.005 -0.010 0.009 -0.004 -0.004 -0.004 -0.005 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.483
G 0.021 -0.084 0.080 -0.088 0.044 0.051 0.049 0.063 -0.023 -0.004 -0.004 -0.687
4. L/B ratio
P -0.007 0.024 -0.024 0.028 -0.013 -0.016 -0.015 -0.019 0.006 0.001 0.001 -0.651
Germination G 0.092 -0.234 0.209 -0.249 0.500 0.123 0.094 0.239 -0.141 -0.141 -0.178 0.715
5.
(%) P 0.093 -0.221 0.174 -0.238 0.498 0.122 0.093 0.237 -0.133 -0.139 -0.176 0.710
Seedling length G 0.253 -0.397 0.350 -0.406 0.173 0.703 0.495 0.469 -0.014 0.237 0.181 0.841
6.
(mm) P 0.249 -0.382 0.287 -0.383 0.171 0.698 0.492 0.465 -0.013 0.235 0.179 0.838
Root length G -0.005 0.020 -0.016 0.020 -0.007 -0.025 -0.035 -0.015 -0.011 -0.019 -0.017 0.576
7.
(mm) P -0.005 0.017 -0.012 0.017 -0.006 -0.022 -0.032 -0.014 -0.010 -0.017 -0.015 0.574
Shoot length G 0.024 -0.053 0.038 -0.050 0.033 0.047 0.030 0.070 -0.042 0.006 -0.001 0.748
8.
(mm) P 0.021 -0.045 0.028 -0.042 0.029 0.041 0.026 0.061 -0.036 0.005 0.000 0.745
Root shoot G -0.015 0.017 -0.007 0.014 -0.015 -0.001 0.017 -0.032 0.053 0.008 0.014 -0.185
9.
ratio P -0.011 0.014 -0.003 0.010 -0.012 -0.001 0.013 -0.025 0.043 0.006 0.012 -0.178
Seedling fresh G -0.003 0.006 0.017 -0.004 0.020 -0.024 -0.039 -0.006 -0.011 -0.071 -0.065 0.040
10.
Weight.(g) P -0.002 0.003 0.008 -0.002 0.012 -0.014 -0.023 -0.003 -0.006 -0.042 -0.038 0.040
Seedling dry G 0.000 0.000 -0.001 0.000 -0.002 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.001 0.004 0.004 -0.052
11.
Weight.(g) P 0.000 0.001 0.002 -0.001 0.006 -0.005 -0.008 0.000 -0.005 -0.016 -0.018 -0.052

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Fig 1: Genotypic path diagram for seed and seed vigour traits

Fig 2: Phenotypic path diagram for seed and seed vigour trait

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