Correlation and path coefficient analysis in yield contributing characters in chilli, Capsicum annum L

Twenty three genotypes were used to study the correlation and path analysis for growth and yield contributing characters in chilli under Kashmir conditions. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design at KVK farm Pulwama, SKUAST-K during Kharif season of 2010 and 2011. The number of fruits per plant was significantly and positively correlated with fruit weight per plant and red ripened fruit yield. Green fruit yield per plant and dry yield per plant was positively and highly significantly correlated with number of fruits per plant (0.6585) and fruit weight (0.9839). The path coefficient analysis brought out the number of fruits per plant, fruit width and average fruit weight as major yield components which could be considered selection indices for improvement. The results suggested that due emphasis should be on to the genotypes that are having maximum number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth and fruit weight in the selection process due to their high positive direct effect on dry fruit yield.